Raggedy Bill

In South America, generally speaking, the people don't seem to have much confidence in their money. Any minor tear or scribble is enough for a bill to be rejected. Any travelers who have tried to exchange dollars for pesos or soles or bolivianos has probably, frustratingly, had their less-than-crispy dollars refused and returned. This seemingly means that locals are losing money all the time. Any unintentional rip when pulling a bill out your wallet could cost you money - 'Cause nobody's gonna accept it. I've read that it's possible to exchange tattered bills for crispy ones in some banks, but it this were so, people would be more likely to accept those mangled bills.

Then we came to Argentina, where I saw the most deplorable notes in this hemisphere. They didn't even care what they looked like. Shopworn. Shabby. Rugged. Ripped. Tattered. Taped. Notched and neglected. No problem. Now that was some real faith in currency. But this was nothing compared to the neighboring Paraguayans. Those crazy jokers would rip their money, any money, in half, and never lose their faith.