Australian $20 note to get new tactile features to help the blind

The new note has been labelled a counterfeiter’s nightmare, but its tiny detail will help an important community use money effectively.

The central bank has unveiled the new $20 note complete with tactile features to assist the blind and those with low vision to handle their money.

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s note includes three raised bumps on each of the long edges to allow its value to be identified.

RELATED: New coins to celebrate meat pies, Weet-Bix, Esky

RELATED: Reserve Bank unveils ‘next generation’ banknote

“These tactile features enable the 350,000 Australians who are blind or have low vision to now accurately and easily identify the cash they are handling, like the rest of the community, and that’s how it should be,” Vision Australia government relations and advocacy manager Chris Edwards said.

The new note has clever features that will make it a counterfeiter’s nightmare.

“Without the tactile marking, many people who are blind or have low vision relied on a mobile phone app or a small device to measure the size of banknotes, which vary by a few millimetres.

“These solutions are fiddly, time-consuming and impractical.

“We commend the RBA for responding to the needs of people who are blind or have low vision and demonstrating that accessibility is not something that should be put in the too-hard basket.”

There is also a patch with a ‘rolling-colour effect’.

The handy new feature is the result of campaigning by Vision Australia and Connor McLeod, who launched a successful change.org petition back in 2014.

RBA assistant governor Lindsay Boulton says the note has been redesigned, as has the $5, $10 and $50 notes earlier this year.

“The new design includes innovative security features and a tactile feature to those who are blind or have low vision to identify the denomination of the banknote and use it with confidence,” he said.

“The Reserve Bank of Australia is extremely grateful for the assistance and support from the blind and low vision community to improve the accessibility of Australia’s banknotes.”

The RBA released the design of the note earlier in the year, detailing clever features that will make it a counterfeiter’s nightmare.

While the updated notes still feature Mary Reibey and Reverend John Flynn — who are both included on the current version — they also come with a raft of new, state-of-the-art security features.

RBA governor Philip Lowe said “improved security and ease of recognition” were key to the redesign, which now includes the same “innovative” anti-counterfeiting features used on the $5 note and $10 notes, released in September 2016 and September 2017, and the $50 notes, released last October.

These new elements include a top-to-bottom clear window that contains dynamic elements, including a flying kookaburra that moves its wings and changes colour, and a reversing number 20.

There is also a patch with a “rolling-colour effect” as well as “microprint” showcasing excerpts from Mr Flynn’s book, The Bushman’s Companion, and the names of Ms Reibey’s ships.

THE GREAT COIN HUNT

On Monday, Australia Post and the Royal Aus­tralian Mint released millions of $1 coins featuring classic Australian themes such as the Hills hoist, a quokka and an Esky.

There is a different design for each letter of the alphabet with the first six available now.

A will feature Australia Post, F for footy, I for Iced VoVo, M for meat pie, S for surf lifesaving and X for the tiny township of Xantippe.

Bless.

Name another country where a clothes line is iconic …

New coins will then be released every Monday until October 21, culminating in Z for the summer staple Zooper Dooper.

But there’s a catch.

The only way to get your hands on the iconic coins is to make a purchase at an Australia Post store and receive the limited-edition $1 coins in the change.

“We want everyone to get involved,” Australia Post consumer and community executive general manager Nicole Sheffield said.

“Not only will it be really exciting to hunt for all the coins and build an amazing collection, but each and every coin opens up the opportunity for wonderful conversations about quintessential Australian life.”

Continue the conversation on Twitter @James_P_Hall or [e-mail]