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Posted: 2016-04-12 07:18:00

The Queen doesn’t look too pleased with the new note. Picture: Reserve Bank Australia

AS THE country complains over the new design on the $5 banknote, we’re sad to say it only gets worse from here.

Because there’s one awkward piece of the puzzle that the Reserve Bank has failed to fix.

It’s been long known that if you fold the $5 note in half, you might stumble across an image of a whale ... well ... how do we put this delicately, performing fellatio. Call it a banknote BJ, if you will.

While this was cause for a few childlike laughs over the years, the issue must have been swept over the heads of designers because if you were to fold the new $5 note, the same image is projected.

Though this time, the “whale’s” eyes are closed.

Hmm.

Hmm.

Still there, only this time the eye is closed.

Still there, only this time the eye is closed.Source:news.com.au

Earlier, the Reserve Bank unveiled the design of Australia’s new $5 banknote, and the reaction has been mixed.

From “it looks like vomit” to “what even is that”, cash carriers of Australia are weighing in with their comments on the colourful new design.

The new note, which will be issued into circulation from September, will keep the same basic colour, size, and people portrayed as the old fiver, but the design is a bit different.

And from the back: Our new fiver. Picture: Reserve Bank Australia

And from the back: Our new fiver. Picture: Reserve Bank Australia

When the series is complete, each New Australian banknote will depict a different species of Australian wattle and a native bird, RBA Governor Glenn Stevens announced today.

“On the $5 banknote, these are the prickly Moses wattle and Eastern Spinebill,” he said in a statement.

Those are the yellow caterpillar looking things and the little bird, drawn in the middle of the note next to the slightly aged and more surly-looking queen.

The design took in research involving focus groups, and a “culmination of a process of extensive consultation with subject-matter experts and the cash-handling industry”, the RBA said.

But despite the research, not everyone is happy with the design. One user has gone so far as to threaten never to use the denomination again.

The new notes will also feature a new “tactile” feature to help the vision-impaired community distinguish between denominations.

And yes, people have managed to make fun of that as well.

The $5 banknote was first issued in Australia in 1967, the year after the currency was changed from the pound to the dollar.

The original design, printed on a paper note, featured botanist Sir Joseph Banks and humanitarian Caroline Chisholm.

The polymer note was first introduced in 1992, followed in 1995 by another design printed in a deeper shade of mauve to help confused users distinguish it from the similarly coloured $10 banknote.

The current design features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II which was commissioned by the RBA in 1984. On the reverse side are pictures of old and new Parliament Houses.

Goodbye, old friend. Picture: Reserve Bank Australia

Goodbye, old friend. Picture: Reserve Bank AustraliaSource:Supplied

A limited edition commemorative fiver was also introduced in 2001 for that year only, features Sir Henry Parkes on one side and Catherine Helen Spence on the other.

Issuance of the new $5 banknote will commence on September 1, although it will take some time for the new banknotes to be widely circulated, the RBA has warned.

The current series of banknotes can continue to be used even after the new banknotes are issued.

New Zealand was also treated to a preview of its new banknotes yesterday.

Their new cash will also be more brightly coloured and feature native wildlife, but have faced significantly less ridicule.

New Zealand has new money too, but it’s fine. Picture: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

New Zealand has new money too, but it’s fine. Picture: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

The release of the $5 notes will be followed by updated designs for each of the higher denominations.

The introduction of the new notes marks the 50th anniversary year of Australia’s conversion to the decimal currency system.

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