Countries prohibit defacing of currency: Barker

MANY countries prohibit the defacing of their currency by intentionally damaging it, writing on it, attaching advertisements or items to it, or replicating it for other purposes, says an economist.
Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker said the representation of the currency on products should be approved by a monetary authority such as the Bank of PNG (BPNG).
Barker was commenting on a BPNG notice on the illegal reproduction or imitation of the PNG currency banknotes and coins.
BPNG governor Loi Bakani said using images of bank notes and coins on items such as dresses and shirts was illegal.
“The producers of such items are warned to immediately stop using the currency images on their products for commercial purposes,” he said.
The Central Banking Act 2000, prohibits the reproduction or imitation of PNG currency notes and coins for any purpose without the consent or approval of the Bank of Papua New Guinea.
Barker said the use of the national flag and emblem were also restricted in PNG and other countries.
But flags, more than the currency, are widely reproduced by artists and designers, mostly for commercial purposes, usually without harm, but sometimes in a more demeaning manner.
“Publicly damaging national flags is an offence, as well as being deemed offensive in most countries, although continuing to fly flags that are severely tattered may also be considered demeaning in many jurisdictions.”