Leonard Nimoy: Star Trek fans 'spocking' five-dollar bills

Following Leonard Nimoy's demise, Star Trek fans have taken to drawing his image on five-dollar Canadian bills, prompting the Bank of Canada to issue a statement.

'Spocking' the portrait of Canada's seventh Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier on five-dollar notes, fans are drawing pointy ears, sharp eyebrows and Nimoy's signature haircut.

Bank of Canada has now urged fans against defacing currency as a tribute to Star Trek's Mr. Spock.

Bank of Canada spokeswoman, Josianne Menard, has said that while the campaign is not illegal, it can lead to security interferences.

"It is not illegal to write or make other markings on bank notes... However, there are important reasons why it should not be done. Writing on a bank note may interfere with the security features and reduces its lifespan," said Menard, reported Toronto Sun.

"Markings on a note may also prevent it from being accepted in a transaction. Furthermore, the Bank of Canada feels that writing and markings on bank notes are inappropriate as they are a symbol of our country and a source of national pride."

Meanwhile, social media is being flooded with 'spocked' photos of marked-up five-dollar Canadian bills.

Calgary artist Tom Bagley who posted his version of the Spock-Laurier hybrid on Facebook and Flickr said: "I always thought it was OK as long as the numbers were intact - it still counted as money. That's what I heard. Because stuff happens, like say you spill spaghetti sauce all over it or something like that."