Beautiful Bills

The designs in Hong Kong dollars are artistic and intelligent. Some of
them look far to pretty to spend! The Chinese Yuan has some nice
artwork too. I especially like the 20 Yuan note with the Cormorant
fisherman in Yangshou on the back.

American money by contrast is some of the ugliest in the world. While
no longer monochromatic, the latest use of color in American money is
arbitrary and clumsy. I understand the need for anti-counterfeiting
measures, but does that mean style must be sacrificed?

I've personally learned this lesson with the hard-headed US mint,
which makes our ugly coins. I guess when a government gets too
powerful it no longer has to invest in style. Maybe in some small part
this is why the US dollar is becoming worth less and less around the
world.

I'll happily support the Hong Kong economy a bit by taking a few
beautiful examples out of circulation to bring home.