These banknotes became very popular very quickly simply because they were much easier to carry than the large copper "daler", especially for making large payments (a note could be sent in an envelope - previously the large coins had to be transported by horse and cart). A further reason was that when the amount of copper in the coins was reduced the old coins were taken out of circulation faster than new ones could be minted, meaning that there was a shortage of money which could only be solved by replacing the coins with banknotes.