Queen shrinks Went to the ATM this morning, it always make me laugh when the machine only spews out $50 and $100 bills. It must be the only country in the world that gives you a hundred note and nothing else. Anyway this morning I got my first new Bermuda $50 note.

There has, is the islands want, been some dispute over the new money which has been released to coincide with the 400th anniversery of the settlement of the island and the Bermuda Monetary Authority's (BMA) 40th anniversary.

The first change in the design of the countries currency was supposed to happen at the beginning of the year but the BMA forget to tell the banks and the notes were too big for the ATM cash machines, so we had to wait while the banks recalibrated it's machines and sorters.

It is the first change to the design since the government introduced the Bermudian dollar in 1970 and so the first of a $1 million worth of new notes were released this week.

"The notes incorporate a distinct Bermudian look with the use of bold colours, as well as local scenes, flora and fauna, in addition to including some of the most up-to-date anti-counterfeiting technology." (more)

There has been quite a problem on the island with counterfeits but the new notes have a see-through feature, larger serial numbers, and a see-through optik, the first of its kind I read to be used in the western hemisphere, which forms a map of Bermuda when held up to the light.

The biggest or should I say smallest thing to note is the Queen's head. It's tiny (click on photo for larger image). From being the main image it has been relegated to the bottom left hand corner of the notes and on the $50 she is pretty much hidden by a Longtail bird. This decision, which I assume was retified by the Governor, Sir Richard Gozney, comes on the back of the Bermudian government doing away with the Queen's Birthday holiday in 2009. The undercurrent of independence rumbles on.  ¶ 12:40