The Truth About Cats and Dogs in Black and White

Truth is just one person's reality. Here is mine in black and white (maybe some shades of gray). This blog has little to do with Cats or Dogs - just humourous sarcastic antics about my life or occasionally, someone else's. You know, intercepting volleyballs with my face, egg dropping, etc. The truth has seen some changes and in fluidity with change expect to see more artistic expressions posting up - so give your two cents worth!

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Decoding our monopoly money

The "looney" (top-right corner) is the name affectionately given to Canada’s one dollar coin for now obviously reasons...no tails...just loons. When you add two “loonies”, you get a “twony,” Canada’s two dollar coin (bottom left-corner) - much less original nickname. I would call it "dead weight in my pocket coin."

The Royal Canadian Mint, the institution responsible for producing Canadian coins, has recently released a new series of “Millennium Coins”. No one is denying the beauty of these new coins, but let’s not forget those colourful pieces of paper that we carry around in our wallets and purses.

The Bank of Canada is the institution responsible for producing Canada’s paper currency. The Bank of Canada notes have been issued since 1935 and these have appeared in five series with different signature combinations of the Deputy Governor and Governor of the Bank of Canada. The size and composition of the paper used to produce these bank notes have remained fairly constant throughout the Banks’ sixty-five year history. The currency we use today was released in 1986 and is often referred to as the “Birds of Canada” series. This series was designed with enhanced security features and special features that allow visually impaired users to identify the denomination of the bank note. The front of the bank notes includes a portrait of either a Canadian Prime Minister or Queen Elizabeth II. (Three of Canada’s seven bank notes portray Queen Elizabeth II). The back of the notes features an image depicting one of Canada’s native birds. In 1986, the $1 bank note was not reissued as part of the new series, and it has been progressively withdrawn from circulation. Recently, the $2 note has been replaced by a more durable coin known as the “twony”.

Unknown 2:29 p.m.

Comments...

I did a tour of the mint in Ottawa a few years back. They mostly do collector coins there (the main mint is in Winnipeg). It was really cool. And I got to lift a gold bar which was surprisingly heavy. And apparently the Canadian mint makes coins for other countries too. Who knew?

posted by

Laurie Roche : 4:37 p.m.

I have never seen Canadian money before, looks pretty similar to what we have except your coins look better. Have you ever seen Australian money? That does look like monopoly money.

Who's the bloke on the 100 dollar note?

posted by

Anonymous : 3:19 p.m.

not a real 100 dollar bill. That's Wayne Gretsky the hockey player. I can't remember who is actually on the 100 not having seen very many.

posted by

Anonymous : 3:45 p.m.

Sorry to confuse, I stumbled across the Gretsky one...I thought everyone knew Wayne. It was funny.

You can find more on Money History at http://www.bank-banque-canada.ca/ OR http://www.mint.ca/royalcanadianmintpublic/

Canadian icons preserved in the 2001-2004 Canadian Journey Series:

Pennies: Maple Leaf
Nickel: Beaver
Dime: The Bluenose
Quarter: Caribou
1$ Coin: Loon
2$ Coin: Polar Bear

5$ bill: Sir Wilfred Laurier; Roch Carrier's "The Sweater" and Canadian Children at Play
10$ bill: Sir John A. MacDonald; John McCrae's poem, "In Flanders Fields"
20$ bill: The Queen, again; Gabrielle Roy's novel, "The Hidden Mountain" and Bill Reid's Haida Artwork
50$ bill: William Lyon Mackenzie King; John Peters Humphrey and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Thérèse Casgrain and the Famous Five
100$ bill: Sir Robert Laird Borden; Miriam Waddington's poem, "Jacques Cartier in Toronto" and Canadian achievements in cartography and communications

The 1986 series, Birds of Canada, was the last issue of the 2$ bill, also featuring the Queen. This series did have a 1000$ bill, also featuring the Queen.

The 1969-1979 series, Scenes of Canada was the last issue of the 1$ bill, you guessed it - featuring the Queen.

posted by

Unknown : 4:28 p.m.

Furthermore, you should see Romania Currency...also monopoly like but the new plastic currency, much longer lifespan and it has little see through boxes. The coin are like feathers...we could learn something from them.

posted by

Unknown : 4:30 p.m.

I've heard of Wayne Gretsky, I've just never actually seen him. To be honest I thought that the picture looked a bit like a young Prince Charles! Not very flattering for Wayne Gretsky!

I don't know, light coins and plastic money it just wouldn't seem real to me.

posted by

Anonymous : 8:33 p.m.

The coins did have a fakish quality, probably cheap metals and easily counterfeited but you wouldn't know the bills were plastic until you tried to rip it...cause I know we all love trying to rip our money...

Not into hockey are we? More of a Cricket fan I s'ppose.

posted by

Unknown : 9:32 p.m.

PS. I think Prince Charles playing hockey would be funny. Probably sell alots of tickets too!

posted by

Unknown : 9:33 p.m.

Because I'm a loser, I just realized that you redesigned your site. Very nice, very nice indeed. You are my blogging hero.

posted by

Teri : 9:47 p.m.

Not really into Ice Hockey, its not shown on TV much (if at all) over here, although we do have the Nottingham Panthers who are meant to be quite good (for a British team). I had an ice hockey video game once, that's how I know who Gretsky was, he was one of the best players on it but I just didn't understand the rules.

I hate cricket, has to be one of the most pointless sports, OK to play (unless your fielding) but a nightmare to watch, unless you're trying to sleep.

Charles did like his dangerous sports but he would have got killed playing hockey! But that picture does look like a young Charles in a water polo helmet. Does Wayne Gretsky really look like that is was it just a bad portrait?

posted by

Anonymous : 10:35 p.m.

Anon --- HA! Another up to cricket...swatting at things must be good stress release. It is not a bad caricature of him actually. So If ran through Nottingham shouting "GO MANCHESTER UNITED" would i get egged?
teri --- I am confused. Why would that make you a loser? And I'm flattered than I am someones hero...even for blogging.

posted by

Unknown : 11:18 p.m.

Egged? You wouldn't make it to the end of the first street alive, especially on a match day! Then again Man U are in a different league to any of the Notts teams so everyone would probably just think you were lost.

Isn't cricket popular in Canada then? I thought all the Commonwealth nations played it? Then again I suppose Ice Hockey is much more exciting, you hardly ever see punch ups in cricket, or anything else for that matter.

posted by

Anonymous : 3:12 p.m.

My dad played some form of cricket when he was a little boy...but we were still under british rule then. Our national sport is actually lacrosse. Go figure.

posted by

Unknown : 3:56 p.m.

Me likey the new layout!

posted by

justacoolcat : 7:13 p.m.

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