This is a short video of Youtuber Michael Ridge playing a 7-inch vinyl record with one of England’s new £5 notes serving as the needle. The bill, released last month, is made of a plastic polymer and is allegedly crumple-proof. It does shrink to a quarter of its size though if you accidentally put one in the dryer in your pant’s pocket (picture after the jump). No word if it’s only worth £1.25 then.

The new polymer five pound notes have a rather curious ability of being just about able to play vinyl records (with the aid of a contact microphone and small amplifier not shown on screen). As the corners on these new banknotes are more durable and sharper than its paper counterpart it acts like a very crude record needle.

If you haven’t already guessed it’s playing the 1976 7″ vinyl single ‘Money, Money, Money’ by ABBA.

So yeah, the new note can play a record. So if you’re a counterfeiter and about to pass off some new fivers to a merchant with a record player, I recommend turning around and walking away. I remember when I was eight my parents took me to Disneyland and I used one of those machines that presses a penny into a souvenir and my dad was all, “What have you done? You can’t deface money, the cops are coming for you!” I was so scared. I still am, which is why I ran away and have been living in the woods ever since.

Keep going for the video, as well as a bill that went through the dryer, complete with disgusting little fingernail for size reference.

Source: Geekologie – Playing A Record With England’s New £5 Note