Nickles and dimes

[ganimede]

I went into the attic this morning because I was looking for something which I wanted to sell on eBay later. I couldn't find it but I found something else instead. It's a money box, a ceramic one shaped like a crow which is inside a locked metal cage. It rattled so there was obviously some money in it and I suddenly remembered exactly what was

Comments

[sullen_hearts]

When I worked on checkouts there was a bank bag in every till that had several different coins from several different currencies in it. There most common one to mistake is a 1 Euro cent for a penny, but I think there were different US ones too. It's a shame that the Euro has meant there's less foreign currency around. I miss it.

Random, I realise.

[ganimede]

It's easy to mistake the US penny and the Canadian one for our own. They're all the same size and colour and the Canadian one has the Queen on the back too. I've not seen a 1 Euro cent though. When I used to do retail I remember gathering together all the foreign currencies. I wish I could go round and collect all the US money!

[ganimede]

I probably have lots of other foreign currency knocking about. I didn't know about the Blue Peter appeal so I'll have to see if I can find the cash and drop it off at Barclays.

Thanks! It was a lot of hard work!

[ftmichael]

Nobody uses half dollars anymore but as far as I know they're still legal tender. If nothing else you can exchange it for two quarters at the bank. :) But I'm pretty sure shops will accept them.

[ganimede]

I wasn't sure because the date on the back is 1967! As long as it's still spendable, I don't mind.

[plangge]

Heh. Do you know how long it's been since there was a change made to US tender that made old tender no longer spendable? I don't believe I've ever happened upon piece of US currency (paper or coin) that was no longer legal tender. You're set. :)

[ganimede]

Wow. That's incredible. English money changes all the time, I think it's to stop counterfeiting. We got a new five pound and ten pound note in 2003. The last big change was in 1971 when we went decimal and replaced the old currency of pounds, shillings and pence with the current pounds and pence instead. I don't remember that, but we've had lots of changes since.

[geneticload]

Half dollars are still legal tender. I hope every bit helps because unfortunately $3.81 won't get you too much here, my lunch today cost $10, ok so it was a bit of a fancy lunch, usually a cheap lunch is about $5. Well, at least you almost have one meal paid for!

[ganimede]

It's better than nothing! Last time I went to the US I didn't even have change to get a drink at the airport so at least this time I've got that covered.

[geneticload]

This is true! However, if you are on or near Long Beach (the Los Angeles area), Jodi and I will take you out for a meal!

[ganimede]

I'm not sure I'll be in that area in the near future, San Francisco is about as close as I'll get. Is that too far away?

[aredridel]

There's your BART fare. Mayhaps I'll bring the three pounds ten I have leftover and trade you.

[ganimede]

Somehow I think I'll be getting the better end of the bargain there.