Well-earned rest for sharp-eyed cash counters
SIR – When banknotes were counted by hand, to have them all facing the same way (Letters, October 19) facilitated both the counting and the spotting of forgeries.
In the 1920s, my mother’s first job was at the Bank of England counting notes, which came in bundles of a hundred from branches across the country. To sharpen attention to the task, any girl discovering three forgeries would be rewarded with a half day’s holiday.
Duncan Reeves
Lindfield, West Sussex
SIR – Mark Nowers (Letters, October 19) is not alone in using his banknotes the “proper way up”. But does he exercise the same care with his coins? I do.
Francis R Carpenter
Cambridge
SIR – I always rearrange notes from cash machines so that the Queen is facing the same way. They are then folded in half and placed in my rear trouser pocket with HM facing outwards.
Patrick Hargreaves
Blackpool, Lancashire
SIR – It is essential in Thailand to offer notes with the King’s image uppermost; failing to do so would cause grave offence and be regarded as a serious lèse-majesté.
David Vaudrey
Doynton, Gloucestershire
SIR – As a volunteer in our community village shop, I was briefed by a retired Army officer on how to run the till. He said, with great solemnity, that notes were to be placed in it not only face up but “head inwards”. This was to avoid the sprung clip securing them from snapping shut on Her Majesty’s face. All volunteers are expected to observe this courtesy.
Charles Monk
Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire