Revival Of The Canadian Large Denomination $ Bills.

I didn't even know. I thought it was just the 500 Euro. But apparently Europe has a 200 Euro note. And that's the one they are not worried about, it's the 500. I think a $200 bill for the 21st Century just makes too much sense.

Which is ridiculous because it's the 50 and 20 Euro bills that are most frequently forged and that by a wide margin. The higher denominations are actually pretty safe.
Here in Germany, the 100 Euro bill is used and found in circulation and accepted by most shops and stores. The 200 and 500, however, are rarely used.

Regarding Canada, a $150 bill might be possible for the Anniversary in 2017. But I'd give it only a small chance.
Higher denominations (200 or 500) won't happen. See westernsky's post for why.

In Canada the currency is made of polymer instead of cotton fibre like the euro. So counterfeiting would be extremely harder to do here than in europe. So counterfeiting shouldn't be a problem.

They have been making polymer notes in Australia since '94 at least... polymer notes only make counterfieting HARDER.. not impossible.

The other issue is still mobility and liquidity... law enforcement wants there to be a tracked record of all large sums...

5 mill in "pinkies" is 5000 notes ... with 100 notes to a strap, and 10 straps to make up a brick (1000 notes) 5 bricks while a bit sizeable could easily fit in a hockey equipment bag...

Same 5 mill in $100 notes... you would need 500 bricks... now you're not moving this kind of $$ easily... so the police can focus their attention on other items being moved ...

Credit cards are a scam? How so? The big banks are out to get us? Fine, so use debit for your large purchases. Still no need to carry large bills on you.

Canada is usually ahead of the USA when it comes to these matters, but it is an almost certainty that there will not be circulation bills higher than the $100 unless there is a complete collapse of the currency and rampant inflation takes hold.

It is far more likely that coins and currency on both sides of the border will be obsolete before a $200 or $500 bill is returned to circulation. Legitimate cash transactions over $200 or so are highly unusual.

What I think is more likely is some sort of anonymous non-cash personal transfer system. Sort of a credit or debit card that provides a secure but anonymous transaction. I have no idea on how such a system would or should work, but if it is figured out and allowed by the government it would be the end of cash as we know it.

n9jig:

I think that's the market bitcoin was trying use. But it does draw an area of concern as it's a digital currency that really isn't backed by either a commodity or secured by government.

If you want anonymity 4 currencies will be accepted by certain people all over the world. Cash, guns/ammo, gold and gemstones.

Now going back to the topic of large denominations... the police NEED a paper trail. When transactions are moved to "cash" it can often be very difficult to follow the money. The average person is not even figured into this equation of why got rid of high denominations. But as my previous post once you start getting into very large figures you want to make it difficult for individuals if not absolutely unrealistic for them NOT to use a traceable transaction.