Remodelled New Zealand coins being tested
Michigan
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Your small change is about to become smaller.
Perhaps in keeping with their reduced purchasing power, 10c, 20c and 50c coins are being replaced by smaller, lighter models, while the 5c piece is disappearing altogether from July 31. The 10c coin gets the biggest makeover, losing weight and changing colour to copper.
The Waikato Times tested Reserve Bank provided samples of the coins on merchants in the penny-wise streets of Frankton yesterday.
The new currency is so light it feels like toy money, though it is the most serious change for loose change since the arrival of $1 and $2 coins 15 years ago.
Debbie Jones at Hammer Hardware said the coins reminded her of the Caltex All Black tokens from a few years ago.
"But we'll get used to it," she said. "We haven't got much choice have we? At least our purses will be lighter."
She said businesses would be running double the number of coin compartments in their till for several months. "It will be tricky, but it's no use complaining. We have to do what Helen says."
On the other side of the coin, Jashu Mistry from Commerce St Supermarket, was ill at ease with the disorienting lightness of the new coins. She pointed out one rupee from India was heavier than a new 50c piece. "I don't like them," she said. "It is as if the 50c is not very valuable."
John Mayo from Frankton Jewellers said there would be no problems. "It's amazing how quickly you get used to change," he said, unperturbed by the new 20c weighing as little as 5c in the old money.
But Red Cabs taxi driver David Waite said the coins were shockers.
"Older people struggle to tell the difference between $1 and $2 coins now. I'm not impressed. At night they will be very hard to sort out."
The Foundation For the Blind backed the coin changeover, saying the new coins passed the test: "Can I hold this coin and at once recognise it without comparing it with another coin?"
The change will affect retailers and cash-handlers dramatically, especially those who use coin counters, scales, sorters or coin-operated machinery. Systems affected include vending, gaming, carwash, snack and cigarette machines, parking meters, amusement rides, arcades and pay-phones.
The Reserve Bank says it may take up to six weeks after the July 31 change-over date to recall the majority of old coins.
Perhaps in keeping with their reduced purchasing power, 10c, 20c and 50c coins are being replaced by smaller, lighter models, while the 5c piece is disappearing altogether from July 31. The 10c coin gets the biggest makeover, losing weight and changing colour to copper.
The Waikato Times tested Reserve Bank provided samples of the coins on merchants in the penny-wise streets of Frankton yesterday.
The new currency is so light it feels like toy money, though it is the most serious change for loose change since the arrival of $1 and $2 coins 15 years ago.
Debbie Jones at Hammer Hardware said the coins reminded her of the Caltex All Black tokens from a few years ago.
"But we'll get used to it," she said. "We haven't got much choice have we? At least our purses will be lighter."
She said businesses would be running double the number of coin compartments in their till for several months. "It will be tricky, but it's no use complaining. We have to do what Helen says."
On the other side of the coin, Jashu Mistry from Commerce St Supermarket, was ill at ease with the disorienting lightness of the new coins. She pointed out one rupee from India was heavier than a new 50c piece. "I don't like them," she said. "It is as if the 50c is not very valuable."
John Mayo from Frankton Jewellers said there would be no problems. "It's amazing how quickly you get used to change," he said, unperturbed by the new 20c weighing as little as 5c in the old money.
But Red Cabs taxi driver David Waite said the coins were shockers.
"Older people struggle to tell the difference between $1 and $2 coins now. I'm not impressed. At night they will be very hard to sort out."
The Foundation For the Blind backed the coin changeover, saying the new coins passed the test: "Can I hold this coin and at once recognise it without comparing it with another coin?"
The change will affect retailers and cash-handlers dramatically, especially those who use coin counters, scales, sorters or coin-operated machinery. Systems affected include vending, gaming, carwash, snack and cigarette machines, parking meters, amusement rides, arcades and pay-phones.
The Reserve Bank says it may take up to six weeks after the July 31 change-over date to recall the majority of old coins.
0
Comments
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
In this case the existing decimal coins are probably not overly scarce in unc but many
of the varieties will be destoyed almost entirely.
<< <i>any links to pictures of the new coins? >>
look here.
designs look the same, just smaller.