The craze for defacing Canadian $5 bills to make former prime minister Wilfrid Laurier look like Star Treck's Spock is not illegal but is "inappropriate," says the country's central bank.
The practice of 'Spocking' the $5 bill by doodling a new haircut and eyebrows on Laurier's portrait is long-established, with its own
Facebook page dating back to 2008 which says: "The origins of this mysterious tradition are shrouded in secrecy, although it is widely believed to be totally awesome."
Spocking has become more difficult since the introduction of a new, plastic, $5 bill with a different Laurier portrait. However, Canadians still dug out their old currency to go on a
#Spocking spree after last week's death of Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played Start Treck's logical Vulcan.
Bank of Canada spokeswoman Josianne Menard told the CBC that the practice is not illegal but added that the bank "feels that writing and markings on bank notes are inappropriate as they are a symbol of our country and a source of national pride".
Not to be outdone, some on Twitter have tried to Spock other bank notes, with mixed results: