April 8, 2002

Thoughts on single currencies
   by rcn

In theory? Great idea. In practice? Crap idea.

On the 1st January 2002, 360 million Europeans (not including me, thankfully) had their whole monetary world turned upside down by some people in Brussels who threw new coins at them with the instructions "Spend and enjoy."

Not a bad idea is it? Having most of Europe using the same currency - should make international trade easy? Well, it does. But how easy is it for the average Joe (or Hans or Pierre) on the street? Well, I'll tell it to you straight. It's not.

Last month I was in France with the new evil coins that took over from the Franc. The French are pretty pro-Euro, which is just as well because they have no say in it any more. But how easy is it to tell apart the 50c, 20c and 10c coins? If you're short sighted I'd imagine it's impossible. What's the point in having gold coins that are all virtually the same size?? Why do it? It's confusing, and it pisses people off.

Stupid. That's all I can say. S-T-U-P-I-D.

Long live the pound.

Published: April 8, 2002
Editor: stacy