posted by Justin - 2010-03-08 20:41:10
Currency
I have a riddle for you. You’re not allowed to look it up. There’s no trick, really.
I have 100 (American) coins that add up to make 5 dollars. But I have NO NICKELS. What are the coins?
You work on that.
Anyway, so let’s talk about currency.
I like currency. My family collects paper money from different countries, and when people (read: me) go someplace new they ask to be given a sample.
Usually this paper is not worth very much but they’ve amassed some 50-odd collection that’s pretty cool. I’m betting this isn’t unique, as other traveling families probably do the same thing.
And currency is interesting. I like looking at the pictures and what the countries have chosen to have represent them. Usually it’s some angry dude, but sometimes it’s a beautiful depiction of local flora or fauna.
Exchanging money is a motherfucker, of course. And my recent bounce around part of Asia has left my wallet very confused. The simpleton inside me says, “Man, I wish all these countries made currency easier for me, the western man who is visiting for a few days.”
But sometimes, more seriously, I do wonder what the effect would be of having just one currency. I will not pretend to understand the economics of it (which might defeat the entire purpose of the discussion), and this is entirely a thinkpiece, but I wouldn’t mind it if we all had the same bills and coins.
Perhaps we could all choose to keep our current currencies if we wanted and had the choice to use the new one.
Part of me thinks this might help ease some of the huge discrepancies between nations, if not literally, then symbolically putting people on more equal footing. But of course certain countries would still simply have more.
Would you welcome something like this? What would you call the currency? Or would you really feel attached to your dollars/rand/won? And what effect do you think this might have? With the internet and other forms of banking these days, a lot of folks don’t even use paper currency, so perhaps it wouldn’t even have much of an effect. But I’m curious to see what effects you all think it might have anyway.
Anyone know the answer to the riddle?
Peace and love,
Justin PBG
I have 100 (American) coins that add up to make 5 dollars. But I have NO NICKELS. What are the coins?
You work on that.
Anyway, so let’s talk about currency.
I like currency. My family collects paper money from different countries, and when people (read: me) go someplace new they ask to be given a sample.
Usually this paper is not worth very much but they’ve amassed some 50-odd collection that’s pretty cool. I’m betting this isn’t unique, as other traveling families probably do the same thing.
And currency is interesting. I like looking at the pictures and what the countries have chosen to have represent them. Usually it’s some angry dude, but sometimes it’s a beautiful depiction of local flora or fauna.
Exchanging money is a motherfucker, of course. And my recent bounce around part of Asia has left my wallet very confused. The simpleton inside me says, “Man, I wish all these countries made currency easier for me, the western man who is visiting for a few days.”
But sometimes, more seriously, I do wonder what the effect would be of having just one currency. I will not pretend to understand the economics of it (which might defeat the entire purpose of the discussion), and this is entirely a thinkpiece, but I wouldn’t mind it if we all had the same bills and coins.
Perhaps we could all choose to keep our current currencies if we wanted and had the choice to use the new one.
Part of me thinks this might help ease some of the huge discrepancies between nations, if not literally, then symbolically putting people on more equal footing. But of course certain countries would still simply have more.
Would you welcome something like this? What would you call the currency? Or would you really feel attached to your dollars/rand/won? And what effect do you think this might have? With the internet and other forms of banking these days, a lot of folks don’t even use paper currency, so perhaps it wouldn’t even have much of an effect. But I’m curious to see what effects you all think it might have anyway.
Anyone know the answer to the riddle?
Peace and love,
Justin PBG
[end post]