Post by thread:[OT] Them colored stripes

Ok, time to ask.. For several years, I've noticed two different colored stripes in the US $20. These are ones from my bank, and ones I get in general circulation. According to them who print them (legitimately) it's supposed to be green. http://www.bep.treas.gov/newmoney/main.cfm/currency/new20 Checking today's batch, I have two green, and one red. What's up with that?

David wrote regarding '[OT] Them colored stripes' on Thu, Dec 15 at 12:28: > For several years, I've noticed two different colored stripes in the > US $20. These are ones from my bank, and ones I get in general > circulation. You don't work for a school cafeteria, do you? :) http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_348111920.html --Danny

> You don't work for a school cafeteria, do you? :) > > http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_348111920.html Nope.. This has been happening for at least 4-5 years. The notes look good to me, but I know there's only supposed to be the green stripe.

David wrote regarding 'RE: [OT] Them colored stripes' on Thu, Dec 15 at 13:26: > Nope.. This has been happening for at least 4-5 years. > The notes look good to me, but I know there's only supposed to be the > green stripe. You're talking about the thin plastic-like strip that's woven into the money, right? Doesn't it have some printing on it? I'd bet that, between the holographic printing and simple thin-film refraction, it'd be likely that one would see a reddish tint - red being a short wavelength and most likely to be reflected in there. Red's also directly opposite green in our friendly color wheel (which is why you crank the green up as one way to get rid of redeye in photos), for whatever that would contribute. :) --Danny, blaming refraction

Danny Sauer wrote: > red being a short wavelength Red is at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum. ****************************************************************** Embed Inc, Littleton Massachusetts, (978) 742-9014. #1 PIC consultant in 2004 program year. http://www.embedinc.com/products

> You're talking about the thin plastic-like strip that's woven into the > money, right? Doesn't it have some printing on it? I'd bet that, > between the holographic printing and simple thin-film refraction, it'd > be likely that one would see a reddish tint - red being a short > wavelength and most likely to be reflected in there. Not red-ish.. RED. Like in total absence of green-ness.

Olin wrote regarding 'Re: [OT] Them colored stripes' on Thu, Dec 15 at 14:49: > Danny Sauer wrote: > >red being a short wavelength > > Red is at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum. Doh. I remember the ends by the infra and ultra prefvixes on red 'n violet, respectively. Unfortunately, I seem to screw up just what's getting smaller and larger - the frequency or wavelength. :) Red has a smaller *frequency*, therefore a longer period/wavelength. One day I'll actually commit that critical component to memory...

Apparently there is also a tiny wire in that plastic strip, so that if someone takes a suitcase full of cash on an airplane the metal detector at the security checkpoint will go off. While it isn't illegal to take as much cash out of the usa as you'd like, you have to fill out a form if it is over $10K. Much to the chagrin of bigger-time crooks... J Danny Sauer wrote: {Quote hidden}> David wrote regarding 'RE: [OT] Them colored stripes' on Thu, Dec 15 at 13:26: > >>Nope.. This has been happening for at least 4-5 years. >>The notes look good to me, but I know there's only supposed to be the >>green stripe. > > > You're talking about the thin plastic-like strip that's woven into the > money, right? Doesn't it have some printing on it? I'd bet that, > between the holographic printing and simple thin-film refraction, it'd > be likely that one would see a reddish tint - red being a short > wavelength and most likely to be reflected in there. Red's also > directly opposite green in our friendly color wheel (which is why you > crank the green up as one way to get rid of redeye in photos), for > whatever that would contribute. :) > > --Danny, blaming refraction

> -----Original Message----- > From: spam_OUTpiclist-bouncesTakeThisOuTmit.edu [.....piclist-bouncesKILLspam@spam@mit.edu] On Behalf > Of Jesse Lackey > Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 1:15 PM > To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. > Subject: Re: [OT] Them colored stripes > > Apparently there is also a tiny wire in that plastic strip, so that if > someone takes a suitcase full of cash on an airplane the metal detector > at the security checkpoint will go off. While it isn't illegal to take > as much cash out of the usa as you'd like, you have to fill out a form > if it is over $10K. Much to the chagrin of bigger-time crooks... If true, then it would have a resonant length, making a scanner for "money" practical. Hmm.. I wonder if the stripes have different dielectric constants, which would make the resonant points different..

> If true, then it would have a resonant length, making a scanner for > "money" practical. Hmm.. I wonder if the stripes have different > dielectric constants, which would make the resonant points different.. I heard, some years ago, that *some* bill changers could be fooled *some* of the time by a stripe removed from a five spot and taped or glued to a one into dispensing five dollars worth of quarters. The trick was getting the stripe out- required a lot of patience with a tweezer. I would estimate that this was 15+ years ago, or so; long enough that my memory is fuzzed by my youth at the time and I certainly had NO concept of resonance or how the bill reader might know what I had inserted. It might make sense, though- it would be easier to make a reader that would reliably read the resonance of the strip than to read the crumpled, drawn-on, defaced bills inserted into the machine. At least, 15 years ago it was; now they probably check both. Mike H.