My First Encounter With Plastic Currency Notes,

was here in Thailand,

the mint issued a 50 Baht commemorative polymer note in December 1996 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol's accession to the throne, in August 1997, the Bank of Thailand issued another 50 Baht polymer note as a regular circulating banknote in the country.

well it now appears that we too in the UK will be having plastic bank notes in circulation soon, Britain’s first plastic banknotes are to be in use next year when branches of Clydesdale Bank issue two million £5 notes, the bank has been authorised to issue limited edition plastic Scottish banknotes a year before the Bank of England puts plastic notes in general circulation, the new note features the Forth Bridge, nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014, and a portrait of Sir William Arrol, whose company designed the bridge, production of the note in March 2015 will coincide with the 125th anniversary of the bridge’s opening,

polymer notes are said to be tougher, cleaner and more secure than current banknotes, which are made of cotton paper, they will last 2 1/2 years longer than paper banknotes and can survive a spin in the washing machine, more than 20 countries worldwide have adopted plastic banknotes, including Bank of England governor Mark Carney’s native Canada, if they are so much better I wonder why we have not changed to plastic/polymer notes before? the cost of making them I guess.