Comments on: coins without numbers | keep the change? http://graphiquillan.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/coins-without-numbers-keep-the-change/ Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:40:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Shona http://graphiquillan.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/coins-without-numbers-keep-the-change/#comment-47 Shona Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:41:21 +0000 http://graphiquillan.wordpress.com/?p=98#comment-47 Good point, Pete. I hadn't factored in the pound coin and our natural conditioning ability to associate that conditioned meaning to daily objects - if the value of a given coin is something you've learnt by its look, weight or colour, then what's actually on it tends to pale into the background. I suppose something that sticks with me is the fairly universal language of numeric symbols - if you aren't familiar with the written language you have a means to identify what you're playing with. I was out in Morocco a couple of months back, and had it not have been for the numeric characters on the dirhams, I'd have struggled. It'll be interesting to see how overseas tourists adapt to the new designs. Good point, Pete. I hadn’t factored in the pound coin and our natural conditioning ability to associate that conditioned meaning to daily objects – if the value of a given coin is something you’ve learnt by its look, weight or colour, then what’s actually on it tends to pale into the background.

I suppose something that sticks with me is the fairly universal language of numeric symbols – if you aren’t familiar with the written language you have a means to identify what you’re playing with. I was out in Morocco a couple of months back, and had it not have been for the numeric characters on the dirhams, I’d have struggled. It’ll be interesting to see how overseas tourists adapt to the new designs.

]]> By: Pete Ashton http://graphiquillan.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/coins-without-numbers-keep-the-change/#comment-46 Pete Ashton Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:13:17 +0000 http://graphiquillan.wordpress.com/?p=98#comment-46 Very valid points and I hadn't really considered this before, but I do wonder about precedent. The pound coin has never had a "1" on it to my knowledge and checking on Wikipedia the US Dime doesn't even have "ten cents" let alone the number 10. The Nickle does say "five cents" but no "5". 25¢ is just "Quarter Dollar". There may be other examples in other countries and of course it doesn't mean not having numbers is a good idea. Thanks for the brain food! Very valid points and I hadn’t really considered this before, but I do wonder about precedent. The pound coin has never had a “1″ on it to my knowledge and checking on Wikipedia the US Dime doesn’t even have “ten cents” let alone the number 10. The Nickle does say “five cents” but no “5″. 25¢ is just “Quarter Dollar”. There may be other examples in other countries and of course it doesn’t mean not having numbers is a good idea.

Thanks for the brain food!

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