According to media reports, after the national baseball team’s victory in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Premier12, rumor has it that President William Lai (賴清德) is considering replacing the image of Nanwang Puyuma Wreath Experimental Elementary School’s (南王國小) junior baseball team on the NT$500 bill with an image of the “Taiwanese baseball heroes” of the national team. I think: Why not?
The designs of the New Taiwan dollar bills were renewed in about 2000 when the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gained power in the nation’s first power transfer.
According to the experience of countries across the world, a currency is renewed every 10 to 20 years.
In July, the Bank of Japan started to issue new ￥1,000, ￥5,000 and ￥10,000 banknotes, the first time in 20 years that Japan has issued new bills. The image of the ￥10,000 bill was changed from thinker Fukuzawa Yukichi to the Meiji-era entrepreneur Shibusawa Eiichi, the image of the ￥5,000 bill was changed from female writer Ichiyo Higuchi to female educator Umeko Tsuda, and the image of the ￥1,000 bill was changed from medical scientist Hideyo Noguchi to medical scientist Shibasaburo Kitasato. The design logic behind the new bills not only highlights the significance of the times, but it also makes use of the latest printing technology to prevent counterfeiting
In 2020, the UK also changed the image on the back of the ￡20 bill from economist Adam Smith to painter William Turner, which became the first art-themed British banknote. Plus, the paper banknote has been upgraded to a “plastic banknote,” which is the most durable and difficult to counterfeit. The change in material not only extends the life of the bills, but also reduces printing and transportation costs.
Taiwan should keep up with the times and take this opportunity to renew its banknotes to keep up with the world trend of replacing paper banknotes with plastic ones. Compared with traditional paper bills, the plastic ones are considered more durable and more environmentally friendly, and they have improved security features.
The meaning of renewing banknotes lies in “commemorating events of special significance.” The issuance of commemorative bills featuring baseball heroes is not only representative and appropriate, but also highlights the unique significance of Taiwan’s victory in the championship. Every time Taiwanese use the new bills, they would remember the glorious and proud moment, all of which would be of benefit to creating a “Taiwan consensus.”
Dino Wei works in the information technology industry.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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