By Rebecca Boyle Posted 06.17.2011 at 3:11 pm 4 Comments

Dutch QR Coins via Dvice

Determined to keep physical currency relevant in an age of bitcoins and NFC-equipped phones, the Dutch are turning their coins into little high-tech toys. These are purportedly the world’s first coins with QR codes, which currently link to the national mint, but after June 22 will link to a “surprise.”

The coins will be available starting June 22, in both silver (5€ ) and gold (10€). Right now the code resolves as www.q5g.nl, which takes you to a Dutch Ministry of Finance page (in Dutch).

There’s no explanation of what the surprise might be — maybe a contest, maybe a historical link, perhaps a video tour of the place where Dutch money gets made.

The U.S. produces some pretty high-tech cash, but the bills are designed to thwart counterfeiters, not necessarily to edify collectors or engage smartphone users. As far as we know this is the first currency to be embedded with a link to the Internet.

They likely won’t be replacing Dutch euros anytime soon, however — only a limited number of coins were produced, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the national mint in Utrecht.

[via Dvice, The Rich Times]

4 Comments

Link to this comment
jefro
06/18/11 at 4:00 pm

I guess it does make sense to create money that people don't want to spend.

I don't have a phone but could someone try using the above image to see what the surprise is?

Seems like an odd name. QR.

Link to this comment
--HyperNova--
06/19/11 at 9:19 pm

The dutch are taking one step further into electronic currency.

Link to this comment
CodeZero
06/20/11 at 11:23 am

The above QR code (Quick Response code) scans fine, but as stated in the article, links to www.q5g.nl. Will have to scan again in 2 or 3 days to see what happens...

Playing Devil's Advocate since 1978

"The only constant in the universe is change"
-Heraclitus of Ephesus 535 BC - 475 BC

Link to this comment
CodeZero
06/24/11 at 11:06 am

Code loads a video.. wee

Playing Devil's Advocate since 1978

"The only constant in the universe is change"
-Heraclitus of Ephesus 535 BC - 475 BC



June 2013: American Energy Independence

Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.


Online Content Director: Suzanne LaBarre | Email
Senior Editor: Paul Adams | Email
Associate Editor: Dan Nosowitz | Email
Assistant Editor: Colin Lecher | Email
Assistant Editor: Rose Pastore | Email

Contributing Writers:
Rebecca Boyle | Email
Kelsey D. Atherton | Email
Francie Diep | Email
Shaunacy Ferro | Email

circ-top-header.gif
circ-cover.gif