Coin collecting has always taken aim for the elderly crowd. It’s a hobby that doesn’t take too much effort, fairly easy to maintain and can really pay off in the long run. However, the Royal Dutch Mint is out to bring the future to their currency. For the first time ever, Dutch coins will contain QR codes printed on them, scannable with most modern mobile devices.
The occasion is the 100th anniversary of the Dutch Mint in Utrect. Currently the silver 5€ and gold 10€ will be issued on June 22, 2011 with the promise of a surprise when scanned. Currently they resolve at the Royal Dutch Mint’s Website. While this is probably no surprise, they are planning something for the June issue date.
It is in question how well these will actually scan, since the larger of the two coins is still a mere 33mm in diameter. Will only sensitive QR scanners and higher quality cameras be able to pick up the little image? Or will it be prominent enough to work every time with every device? And will it be interesting enough that you care about scanning them at all?
If anything, it is an interesting piece of technology and certainly shows where society as a whole is at the moment. We are tech hungry and love the idea of seamlessly integrating technology with everyday mundane things such as metal coins. It’s wonderfully simple and at the same time incredibly futuristic.
There are plenty of ideas for marketing and tech-integration that a small idea such as including a scannable code on money can create. Suddenly for every coin you scan, maybe it can automatically donate to a charity, or even add into an account. Apps could count your change. Coinstars could become interactive in some way. A small, simple idea can spawn a flood of innovation.
For more tech-money fun, check out the Dr. Who Bank or an alarm clock that shreds your hard-earned cash.
Via 2D Code
