The media giant that is the Buffalo News had an article on cross-border currency acceptance
It’s mostly pretty boring, with a long-winded inclusion of what notable are establishments, on both sides or the border, do and don’t take foreign currency. There is however, this amusing bit:
Americans also are used to looking down on Canadian currency for its lower value, multi-hued paper money and oddly named $1 and $2 coins.
Really??? Who does that besides lame-ass comedians? Personally, I think Canadian currency is pretty cool and interesting. It’s a multi-colored rainbow that highlights important aspects of Canadian culture:
From low to high, here is what is depicted on the reverse side:
Children playing hockey and other winter sports; excerpt from “The Hockey Sweater” byRoch Carrier
Peacekeeping forces and war memorial; excerpt from “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae
Artwork of Bill Reid; excerpt from Gabrielle Roy‘s novel, The Hidden Mountain.
The Famous Five and Thérèse Casgrain; quotation from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Maps of Canada, historic and modern; excerpt from Miriam Waddington‘s poem, “Jacques Cartier in Toronto”
I think the $20 is my favorite design. I admit, when I first started going to Canada, I used to use American currency. I had it, everyone took it, why not? Even if I got screwed on the exchange, it was easy. Now, I make a point to have at least a little bit of Canadian cash. It’s even easier to use a currency in it’s native country, and good to have for those places that don’t accept any type of credit card.
For the American side, I really don’t what to say except if you’re not American, quit your bitching. American businesses have no legal obligation to accept Canadian money, they do it out of the kindness of their hearts. If they decide they don’t want to take Canadian any more, too damn bad. Deal with it. I can attest that at least in my neck of the woods, one has plenty of opportunity to exchange monies.
I only hold this viewpoint for paper currencies and the dollar coins, I think smaller coins are so trivial it really doesn’t matter. Though, it is amusing to see the occasional American cashier flip out over a Canadian penny in her register drawer.