The Royal Bank is indeed not far from here. Within a few minutes' walk, Kennedy and others arrived at the Royal Bank.
When the bank staff learned that Kennedy and others wanted to exchange a large amount of currency, they immediately invited them to a specially set up independent private room for exchange.
After entering the private room, the staff responsible for receiving them immediately served tea.
Kennedy also took out his money bag from his clothes, took out all the gold nuggets and silver coins inside, and piled them on the table.
"Exchange these!" Kennedy said to the receptionist responsible for receiving them here.
"Okay, sir. Please wait a moment. I will ask a professional evaluator to come over and give you an estimate." Under Jenny's translation, the receptionist responded quickly.
After a while, the professional technician responsible for exchange evaluation came into the private room.
After a simple greeting, without saying too much, they began to conduct relevant operations and appraisals on the gold nuggets and silver coins that Kennedy took out on the table.
Soon, the gold and silver on the table were evaluated by them to determine the amount of currency that could be exchanged.
"Hello, sir, we have conducted a trade-off evaluation based on your gold and silver, and after calculating all the losses and fire costs, your gold and silver property can be exchanged for a total of 314 yuan, 50 cents and 300 yuan. Sixty-eight coins. Do you need to exchange it and how to exchange it?" After the technician gave the amount that could be exchanged, the receptionist asked Kennedy in an easy-going way.
"What do you mean by exchange?" Although Jenny had completely translated the receptionist's words, Kennedy still asked in confusion.
"Excuse me, what does 'how to exchange' mean?" At this time, Jenny asked the receptionist in fluent Chinese.
"We have banknotes, silver coins and copper coins to choose from here. Sir, you can choose one or more of them to exchange for an equal amount." The receptionist said.
"Of course, I personally suggest that you exchange more banknotes. It is much lighter than silver coins and copper coins and is easier to carry."
"More importantly, our government has stipulated that all banknotes can be used or exchanged in equal amounts with silver coins and copper coins anywhere, so there is no need to worry about banknotes depreciating and not being as good as silver coins and copper coins."
After listening to the receptionist's suggestion, Kennedy felt it made sense.
What he was carrying before was gold, and it was already so heavy. If it was all exchanged for silver coins, would he still have to carry it on his shoulders?
"Anyway, I have to use this money to pay the deposit for the watch later. There is really no need to choose heavy silver coins."
After some thought, Kennedy said to Jenny who was standing next to him: "Jenny, please tell him. Three hundred yuan can be changed into banknotes, and the rest can be changed into corresponding silver coins and copper coins."
"Okay, sir."
Jenny immediately conveyed Kennedy's message to the reception staff.
"Okay, please wait a moment." The receptionist said and left the private room.
…
After half a cup of tea, the receptionist entered the private room again with two bills and a paper bag of coins.
"Sir, please check the number here to see if it's correct." The receptionist said as he arranged the coins he brought and placed them in front of Kennedy's desk.
"If you think there is no problem, please sign your name and fingerprint on the two bills here, so that the exchange transaction is completed."
At this time, it can be seen that there are three bundles of one-yuan banknotes displayed on the table. Each bundle is composed of banknotes about four inches six in length and two inches three in width. Judging from the thickness, there should be one hundred sheets per bundle.
There are fourteen silver coins in a round, one silver coin of five cents, three copper coins of one hundred cents, one copper coin of fifty cents, one coin of ten cents, one coin of five cents, and one coin of one cent.
Metal coins are basically self-explanatory.
Only this paper money.
Kennedy reached out and picked up a bundle of banknotes, and a clear scent of ink hit his nostrils.
As soon as he got his hands on the paper money, Kennedy clearly felt that the paper of the banknotes was very different from the pound paper in his hand.
Whether it is its polished feel, thickness or fiber inside, people can deeply feel that this banknote is well-made, not to mention the exquisite and closely integrated various patterns printed on it. .
"The sophistication of the banknotes here is much better than the pounds sterling in the British Empire." Recalling the pound papers in his wallet, Kennedy couldn't help but sigh.
In fact, when the Yi Dynasty first prepared to print banknotes, the officials of the printing factory also prepared to use ordinary paper for printing.
After all, with the majesty of the imperial court, every banknote has the words "Anyone who prints privately will be killed" printed on it. As long as some anti-counterfeiting technology is added, there will be few people who are not afraid of death who dare to challenge the authority of the state.
However, Zhang Rui, who had seen later generations of banknotes, disagreed.
Even when various anti-counterfeiting technologies are blocked in later generations, there are still many people with sound laws who will take risks to make private counterfeit banknotes for profit, not to mention today's era where regulatory loopholes are everywhere?
Using ordinary paper to print banknotes, the cost of counterfeiting is too low for those who want to make counterfeit banknotes.
When the profits from counterfeiting are too high, they will take desperate risks.
In order to improve the anti-counterfeiting and safety of banknotes, Zhang Rui ordered that the banknotes printed in Yi Dynasty must use a new type of special paper.
Therefore, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Industry and the Royal Research Institute, the paper for printing banknotes was finally developed.
This is to make cotton pulp as the main raw material from cotton, cotton linters, etc., and then mix it with part of hemp pulp, and then use high-quality softwood to make chemical pulp using caustic soda, sulfate and other methods, and then add a series of complex production process.
The resulting banknote paper has the characteristics of high quality, high tensile strength, resistance to folding and wear, and is not easily deformed or damaged when soaked in water.
When the officials from the Ministry of Industry presented the banknote paper to Zhang Rui for his decision, Zhang Rui was really surprised.
Under the current technical conditions, it is possible to make banknote paper at a level similar to that of later generations. Although it is still a little behind the technical level of later generations, for people of this era, it is the most advanced technology.
In the end, Zhang Rui made the decision that all banknote printing must use this latest banknote paper. This kind of paper is also classified as confidential paper and is not allowed to be circulated to the outside world.
In addition to being technically anti-counterfeiting, banknote paper also has a very important feature, which is its high production cost.
This makes the cost of counterfeiting banknotes high, which can curb the counterfeiting of banknotes by certain people or countries to a great extent, thereby increasing people's trust in the use of banknotes.
Note ①: Please refer to the size of a hundred yuan banknote here.
