Crossposted from https://lemmy.one/comment/283051:

Does anyone else think it’s a little backwards that the large denominations are fragile paper bills, but the small ones are metal coins sometimes worth less than the metal in the coin? Shouldn’t the large denominations be coins, which last longer, and the small denominations be bills, which are easier to carry in large quantities?

  • roo@lemmy.one
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    1 year ago

    It would be a dead giveaway that you’re lugging a lot of money around.

  • sarsaparilyptus@lemmy.fmhy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    Durable coins that won’t wear out for small purchases (back when things actually cost pennies), and paper bills for large purchases with the anti-counterfeiting measure of being able to have large, intricate designs.

  • canthidium@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Lol, could you imagine if it was this way in the movies when people are carrying around millions in briefcases? Just suitcases full of coins making all kinds of noise.

  • PaxSapien@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    In HongKong, and I’m sure in some other places, paper currency is actually made of bearer bonds:

    Note (see what I did) the small text of “Promises to pay the bearer on demand at its office here”, that’s when/where the bank gives you coins, or their Monopoly looking-ass 10 dollar bill, issued by the government.