Nothing really changes in the money game, although the face of the currency gets a makeover every so often, as the redesigned $100 bill attests. “In order to protect your money and keep counterfeiting low, the United States government continues to enhance the security of its currency,” the Treasury’s “New Money” web site reports. The latest roll-out is the new C note, which “incorporates the best technology available to ensure we’re staying ahead of counterfeiters,” said Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner in the accompanying press release issued today. Colorful, isn’t it? Of course, there’s still no technology that will prevent currencies, freshly designed or not, from losing their purchasing power. That age-old challenge still requires some very old-fashioned ideas.

New & Improved?