Texas Star
US Veteran
How big (small) must a one or two dollar gold coin be these days?! How do you pick up the little buggers, with tweezers?
What coins?
- Thread starter Kiwi cop
- Start date
How big (small) must a one or two dollar gold coin be these days?! How do you pick up the little buggers, with tweezers?
That must be a Commonwealth action. Canada got rid of its $1 and $2 bills a number of years ago, and replaced them with $1 coins (Loonie) and $2 coins (Twonie). I remember stopping for lunch on one of our family fishing trips to Canada and the clerk commented that the only time they were seeing dollar bills was when Americans were bringing them back.
As to US dollar coins, they are of little use and more annoyance. When I was based overseas, and accompanied foreign guests on US trips, I would see waiters and stores dump $1 coins even in multiples of 5 on them, thinking it was an easy way to clean the cash register (which rarely has a place for them). I would see waiters try to give $5 in dollar coins as change. In most countries that would be to encourage bigger tips, but here it wasn't so.
I've seen many a store here in DFW that actually refused to take $1 coins or $2 banknotes. That is illegal, and I've been known to cause problems for those I knew I'd never see again after being treated badly, but in general you just have to offer something else, as it isn't worth the argument. In reality, a lot of the small store owners may have never seen them, and not even know they exist.
Most of my dollar coins get dumped in a jar and moved to the Salvation Army Christmas collection kettles.
I've seen many a store here in DFW that actually refused to take $1 coins or $2 banknotes. That is illegal, and I've been known to cause problems for those I knew I'd never see again after being treated badly, but in general you just have to offer something else, as it isn't worth the argument. In reality, a lot of the small store owners may have never seen them, and not even know they exist.
Most of my dollar coins get dumped in a jar and moved to the Salvation Army Christmas collection kettles.
THE PILGRIM
Member
I love the Sacajawea and newer 'gold' US $1 coins.
The earlier ugly coin with the ugly woman, not so much.
But as already posted, the $1 coins are not ordinarily commonly used.
The last time I got some was at my Credit Union when I asked the teller,
Show me what you got!
I bought 10 of these, I think.
The earlier ugly coin with the ugly woman, not so much.
But as already posted, the $1 coins are not ordinarily commonly used.
The last time I got some was at my Credit Union when I asked the teller,
Show me what you got!
I bought 10 of these, I think.
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OP
We also got rid of our 1c, 2c and 5c coins and changed the 10c one from "silver" to copper to reflect it's true value.
Now,everything is either rounded up or down at the point of sale, unless you use EFTPOS (electronic funds transfer,point of sale) where the money goes straight from your bank account to theirs.
EFTPOS is so popular most people never carry cash anymore. I recently found a $20 note in my wallet that had been there 2 weeks that I had forgotten about hidden behind all the business cards. My wife quickly claimed it saying if I had had it that long I didn't need it
I am well known in a number of American Legion and VFW lounges for buying my beer and meals plus tipping with the Gold(en) Dollars. I imagine that that the children and grandchildren of the staff have a stash of Gold(en) Dollars waiting for them from the tips I've given. One bartender at the Somerset, PA American Legion told me she saved the Sacagawea dollars for her daughter, but I was the only person who came in and spent them.
I look at coins as works of art, and my late mother loved coins. I think it's in the DNA. The story in my mother's family is that when they moved out to western PA in the 1830s they bought their farms with silver money in bushel baskets. They hid the money under the vegetables in the baskets.
I look at coins as works of art, and my late mother loved coins. I think it's in the DNA. The story in my mother's family is that when they moved out to western PA in the 1830s they bought their farms with silver money in bushel baskets. They hid the money under the vegetables in the baskets.
One bad feature about US paper currency is the physical size of the paper notes - all of the different denomination notes are the exactly the same physical size! A US $1 paper note is the exact same size as a US $100 note, making miss identification of the bill denomination more difficult. IIRC, NZ paper currency is a larger physical size for the higher denomination of the note. A small note is of lesser value than a larger note.
When I was in high school (a long time ago), working the night shift at a gas station, a foreigner drove up and asked to have $10 of gas put in his car. I put the $10 of fuel into the vehicle and he gave me a $100 bill to pay for it and just drove off. I really appreciated his unfamiliarity with US paper money!
rolomac
Member
Just a couple of comments - first - whoever thinks there are 40 quarters in a ten dollar roll is thoroughly confused (.25 x 40 = $8.00) and second - as a small business owner, I ask a favor - carry something other than $100 bills. Small businesses open up in the morning with a set amount of change in their registers and when the first customer in the door makes a $2.00 purchase and presents a $100 bill it either cleans out that registers change reserve or brings everything to a halt while the clerk finds their supervisor who runs to the back room to access the safe and get change in small bills while other customers wait in line. Hope you enjoy your USA visit.
rolomac
rolomac
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Umm.... is there a punchline I'm missing?
Having just returned from an European trip, (Danube River cruise) and going through 5 different countries, keeping a little pocket money for souvenirs and food is sometimes difficult. In Hungary the money is a FUT, and the exchange rate was something like 250+ to the US dollar. In Germany and Austria and France they did all use the Euro and was 1.16 to the dollar, and Prague was the Crown which was about 21 to the dollar. Your goal was to make sure you got it all spent before you left that country as trying to convert any coins to US dollars outside those countries is near impossible. I still have a few Euro's left and a few Crowns, but less than I had the last time we were there.
I wish you were coming up around Gettysburg so we could meet and trade money.
THE PILGRIM
Member
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Bullzaye
US Veteran
Major math fail! There are 4 quarters to a dollar...so for $8, 8 x 4 = 32 quarters. A $10 roll, 10 x 4 = 40 quarters.
Tim
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
My father served in the South Pacific (Guadalcanal, Tonga, Marshall Islands chain) during WW2, was hit in the head by a Japanese sniper's bullet, evacuated to New Zealand where he remained until late 1946 when he was finally able to return home. He always spoke fondly of New Zealand and the people there.
If you find yourself anywhere near Pueblo, Colorado it would be my pleasure to have you as my guests for a good meal.
Best regards.
If you find yourself anywhere near Pueblo, Colorado it would be my pleasure to have you as my guests for a good meal.
Best regards.
Doug M.
Member
Another reason to avoid $100 bills is that they tend to be the most commonly counterfeited, at least in some parts of the US, so you will get extra scrutiny. I don't like to carry anything bigger than a $20 unless I KNOW I will be spending almost the entire bill someplace, because it is a pain the backside for most businesses.
The other problem with carrying a significant amount of cash is that in some areas, preying on tourists is pretty common because the offenders know you are unlikely to be armed. I tend to keep the majority of my cash out of sight and only dig it out in private to replenish the $20-$40 in my pocket. I also carry nothing in my back pocket - mostly because there is associated nerve damage, but also to discourage the few remaining pickpockets.
The other problem with carrying a significant amount of cash is that in some areas, preying on tourists is pretty common because the offenders know you are unlikely to be armed. I tend to keep the majority of my cash out of sight and only dig it out in private to replenish the $20-$40 in my pocket. I also carry nothing in my back pocket - mostly because there is associated nerve damage, but also to discourage the few remaining pickpockets.
chaparrito
Member
Thanks guys.
The bank gave me $1000 in $100's, the same in $50's, $400 in $20's and $100 in $10's as "travel cash" (plus I have a lot more in US funds on an international debit card that also works as a MasterCard).
I was planning on getting a couple of hundred dollars in smaller bills to carry in my wallet (the big stuff will be with our passports and cards in a money belt) but I will also grab a couple of rolls of quarters.
Just out of interest; had my phone running Spotify on random play the other day and the old Bruce Welch song "Please Mr Please" came on. Do juke boxes still play five songs for a quarter? or is it only one song per coin these days.
I'd consider getting a money belt.
Weimar
US Veteran
I've traveled a lot, internationally and nationally - The money you have is more than enough and I sure wouldn't lug around a wallet full of smaller bills. Unless you are going to be tipping everyone?
Plan on using your debit card / visa card - every now and then you'll find a place that doesn't take it, or might charge you a percentage (antique shop or the like), but everyone uses them. Even the back-woods
I found that in the 90's in europe that many places did not take credit cards (but lots of ATMs around ) and by the time we left most places were taking them in 2000. Later visits showed even more use. In the USA, it is the odd place that doesn't take a card, but it happens, especailly back east for some reason? But couple of hundred in 20's and you are good to go.
Plan on using your debit card / visa card - every now and then you'll find a place that doesn't take it, or might charge you a percentage (antique shop or the like), but everyone uses them. Even the back-woods
I found that in the 90's in europe that many places did not take credit cards (but lots of ATMs around ) and by the time we left most places were taking them in 2000. Later visits showed even more use. In the USA, it is the odd place that doesn't take a card, but it happens, especailly back east for some reason? But couple of hundred in 20's and you are good to go.
kwselke
Member
As a policy I do not carry much cash, $250 tops and less than $50 is normal. I have a Visa credit card, a Visa debit card, and a MasterCard debit card in my wallet at all times. Plastic is readily accepted and more secure from theft (in my opinion).
Hundreds are the largest US dollar bills. Twenty's are readily accepted most anywhere. Do not worry about coins. If you need coins for laundry they will be available from a machine or the front desk. The machines might take specialty tokens or cards.
For many years I traveled with $250 US and a Gold American Express Card. While in Truk in 1986 I could not buy something I wanted. While in London during the first Gulf War I had to borrow 20 British pounds to buy Hilda the Hippo's baby from a shop that accepted Visa not American Express. Come and enjoy yourself, do not worry about small change.
Hundreds are the largest US dollar bills. Twenty's are readily accepted most anywhere. Do not worry about coins. If you need coins for laundry they will be available from a machine or the front desk. The machines might take specialty tokens or cards.
For many years I traveled with $250 US and a Gold American Express Card. While in Truk in 1986 I could not buy something I wanted. While in London during the first Gulf War I had to borrow 20 British pounds to buy Hilda the Hippo's baby from a shop that accepted Visa not American Express. Come and enjoy yourself, do not worry about small change.
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Texas Star
US Veteran
How much is a US dollar now, compared to a Canadian dollar?
Used to be $1.05 Canadian to a US dollar when I was there in 1966. I bet that's changed!
Used to be $1.05 Canadian to a US dollar when I was there in 1966. I bet that's changed!
gregintenn
Member
I haven't ever used a public laundromat, but i'd be surprised of they don't take debit/credit cards by now.
