YANGON, Myanmar — Some of the practices of Myanmar’s dictatorship have eased in recent years: Political prisoners have been released, censorship of news media has been lifting, and the erstwhile empty roads of the country’s largest cities are now jammed with imported cars.

But a particular quirk persists from the days of authoritarian rule. Myanmar remains obsessed with crisp, clean dollar bills.

Foreign visitors discover that banks and foreign exchange counters will pore over greenbacks with the fussiness of a diamond merchant. Any bills that are creased, ripped or scribbled on are rejected.

Credit cards were introduced here only in the past few years, so cash — it’s about 1,100 kyat to the dollar — is still king. And finicky bank clerks block all but the most pristine American bills from entering the banking system.