Polymer $5 bill: The new polymer Canadian $5 bill was shown by astronaut Chris Hadfield on board the International Space Station on Thursday.
Hadfield held up the plastic bill in front of a camera while he was speaking in a video conference call with the Bank of Canada, reported CTV News.
“I just want to tell you how proud I am to be able to see Canada’s achievements in space highlighted on our money,” he was quoted as saying during the conference.
The Bank of Canada also unveiled its new polymer $10 note.
The two bills will pay homage to Canada’s achievements, including a train and “Dextre,” a robot used in outer space.
“These new polymer notes show us the kinds of things we can accomplish when we really put our minds to it,” he said, according to the Globe and Mail. “It really marks Canada’s contribution to the International Space Station program and especially to our long-time expertise in robotics.”
Some people on Twitter were not pleased with the bills’ material.
“Noooooo. Now all our bills are that lame plastic..there is something visceral & cool about the feel of paper bills.” wrote Twitter user Andrew King.
Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty have said that the polymer bills have already prevented fraud.
