The amazing disappearing Euro

Hamburg (AFP) -In Germany around 1500 notes have been exchanged that are disintigrating, literally disappearing in front of the shocked owners eyes. 

The first reports were received on 21 June in Berlin, a 20-Euro-note was exchanged at the Landesbank. Since then there have been notes, with values of 5 to 100 Euros, handed in, mostly in East and North Germany, including Karlsruhe, Würzburg, Frankfurt/Oder, Magdeburg, Kiel, Bad Mergentheim, Düsseldorf, Gießen, München, Cottbus, Rostock, Leipzig, Erfurt, Koblenz und Freiburg. 

Following tests traces of  sulphuric acid have been found on affected bank notes. It looks as though the notes have been treated so that over time they fall into tiny little pieces. No one seems to know why.

And for my next trick - I'm just going to check my wallet now. 

Update - 20 Nov 2006 - Well seemingly the notes were treated with the drug crystal methamphetamine which causes the paper to disintegrate.