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diff --git a/examples/template-zh.pdf b/examples/template-zh.pdf
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diff --git a/examples/template.pdf b/examples/template.pdf
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diff --git a/examples/template_banking_black.pdf b/examples/template_banking_black.pdf
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diff --git a/examples/template_banking_red.pdf b/examples/template_banking_red.pdf
index 0593dd7..f52b760 100644
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diff --git a/examples/template_casual_orange.pdf b/examples/template_casual_orange.pdf
index d1c8eca..ee57e0d 100644
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diff --git a/examples/template_classic_green.pdf b/examples/template_classic_green.pdf
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diff --git a/examples/template_multibib.pdf b/examples/template_multibib.pdf
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diff --git a/examples/template_oldstyle_grey.pdf b/examples/template_oldstyle_grey.pdf
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diff --git a/moderncv.cls b/moderncv.cls
index e2b1e88..277a479 100644
--- a/moderncv.cls
+++ b/moderncv.cls
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@
 %-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 % elements
 \newcommand*{\recipient}[2]{\def\@recipientname{#1}\def\@recipientaddress{#2}}
-\renewcommand*{\date}[1]{\def\@date{#1}}
+\renewcommand*{\date}[1]{\def\@date{#1}}\date{\today}
 \newcommand*{\opening}[1]{\def\@opening{#1}}
 \newcommand*{\closing}[1]{\def\@closing{#1}}
 \newcommand*{\enclosure}[2][]{%
diff --git a/moderncvstylebanking.sty b/moderncvstylebanking.sty
index 732fea2..31314a9 100644
--- a/moderncvstylebanking.sty
+++ b/moderncvstylebanking.sty
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@
   % date
   \hfill % US style
 %  \\[1em] % UK style
-  \hbox{\today}\\[2em]% US informal style: "April 6, 2006"; UK formal style: "05/04/2006"
+  \@date\\[2em]% US informal style: "April 6, 2006"; UK formal style: "05/04/2006"
   % opening
   \raggedright%
   \@opening\\[1.5em]%
diff --git a/moderncvstylecasual.sty b/moderncvstylecasual.sty
index 9889ead..1d10992 100644
--- a/moderncvstylecasual.sty
+++ b/moderncvstylecasual.sty
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
   % date
   \hfill% US style
 %  \\[1em]% UK style
-  \hbox{\today}\\[2em]% US informal style: "April 6, 2006"; UK formal style: "05/04/2006"
+  \@date\\[2em]% US informal style: "April 6, 2006"; UK formal style: "05/04/2006"
   % opening
   \raggedright%
   \@opening\\[1.5em]%
diff --git a/moderncvstyleclassic.sty b/moderncvstyleclassic.sty
index 5956132..c348ca4 100644
--- a/moderncvstyleclassic.sty
+++ b/moderncvstyleclassic.sty
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@
   % date
   \hfill% US style
 %  \\[1em]% UK style
-  \hbox{\today}\\[2em]% US informal style: "April 6, 2006"; UK formal style: "05/04/2006"
+  \@date\\[2em]% US informal style: "January 1, 1900"; UK formal style: "01/01/1900"
   % opening
   \raggedright%
   \@opening\\[1.5em]%