Has anyone ever tried to use obsolete coinage when buying something?

SanctionII · June 25, 2008 8:46AM

For example, using low value beat up half cent, large cent, two cent, nickel three cent, silver trime and/or twenty cent coins to at a grocery store?

I know these coins are worth far more than face value. However, it would be interesting to see what reaction you would receive if you tried to use these coins when paying for something.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · June 25, 2008 8:56AM

I remember Russ saying he once spent seven 2-cent pieces.

BECOKA · June 25, 2008 9:00AM

I can just see some numismatist at a gas station trying to pay that 9/10 tax.

fc · June 25, 2008 9:00AM

not coins, but a dealer here, either ccu or eureka, spent fractional
currency as tips and what not.

jfoot13 · June 25, 2008 9:01AM

No but during the 80's I bought a collection that had a bunch of those BEP full sheets of bills and it was great to buy something for a few dollars then unroll the sheet and cut off a couple bills still connected and pay... the reaactions were priceless .. I forgot all about those days till you mentioned it

still makes me smile thinking about it

Steve27 · June 25, 2008 9:10AM

Russ spent a bunch of beat-up 2 cent coins (where's Russ when you need him).

roadrunner · June 25, 2008 9:12AM

I did this very thing back when I was 11. I had "illicity" ended up with 4 well worn SLQ's and decided to spend them at a snack bar. As odds would have it, the real owner of those 4 well worn coins saw me spending them as lunch money. He said, "hey, wait a minute, those look like mine!" And soon after I was in hot water. Let's just say I was scared straight and took the path to righteousness ever since. Ironically I was collecting back then (1965) and knew the oddity of those SLQ's. You could say that rare coins put me on a better path.

roadrunner

dizzyfoxx · June 25, 2008 9:31AM

No, but I accidentally almost used my pocket piece 1877-CC Seated quarter to buy gum and the clerk just laughed at me. When I saw what I almost gave him that he wouldn't take, I laughed at him.

laserart · June 25, 2008 9:33AM

Since the state quarters have hit the streets it's much easier to pass French coins as quarters.

ambro51 · June 25, 2008 9:46AM

I had spent quite a few of the silver dollars I got for having "best fire prevention day poster" many times over. I guess this was in the early to mid sixies....just a kid....

BBQnBLUES · June 25, 2008 10:04AM

<< No but during the 80's I bought a collection that had a bunch of those BEP full sheets of bills and it was great to buy something for a few dollars then unroll the sheet and cut off a couple bills still connected and pay... the reaactions were priceless .. I forgot all about those days till you mentioned it

still makes me smile thinking about it >>

Don't you wish the BEP would sell these at face value today ! Also, I've always wanted one of those glue bound/tear-off packs of 1's

jfoot13 · June 25, 2008 10:07AM

<< Since the state quarters have hit the streets it's much easier to pass French coins as quarters. >>

way the dollar is the franc is worth more

MajorDuty · June 25, 2008 10:15AM

I tried to spend a worn out Buffalo nickel at Burger king not too long ago because I thought it would be both fun to watch the teller's reaction and also to put it into circulation (I have several I'll be dropping into circulation). Anyway, this is what happened: The teller looked at it, turned it over a couple times and then said they don't accept foreign coins. I explained it is not foreign, just old. He looked at it some more and asked, "don't you just have a real nickel or another dollar and I'll make change?" I did, but I said, nope, all I've got is exact change. The teller continued to believe I was trying to pull a fast one on him and, get this, he ended up taking five cents of his own to make the amount right and gave me back my Buffalo! He paid ME to keep my Buffalo. I was speechless. Couldn't give the thing away.

CaptHenway · June 25, 2008 12:21PM

<< not coins, but a dealer here, either ccu or eureka, spent fractional
currency as tips and what not. >>

I used to do that too. Tried to buy five 13 cent stamps once with two quarters and a 15 cent note at a small town post office out near Rocky Mountain National Park, and the young lady behind the counter freaked and said I would have to wait for the Postmistress to come back from lunch.

TD

CaptHenway · June 25, 2008 12:25PM

Bought something at Hallmark the other day that was only 80 cents with the tax, and gave the young lady a half, a quarter and a nickel. She said "oh, that's too much, that's a dollar coin" and I just smiled and said "no it isn't." She said "yes it is" and picked it up and said "you can see right here on the back where it says.......half dollar........" and then "oh!"
TD

Swampboy · June 25, 2008 1:53PM

<< Bought something at Hallmark the other day that was only 80 cents with the tax, and gave the young lady a half, a quarter and a nickel. She said "oh, that's too much, that's a dollar coin" and I just smiled and said "no it isn't." She said "yes it is" and picked it up and said "you can see right here on the back where it says.......half dollar........" and then "oh!"
TD >>

fc · June 25, 2008 2:17PM

<< 

<< not coins, but a dealer here, either ccu or eureka, spent fractional
currency as tips and what not. >>

I used to do that too. Tried to buy five 13 cent stamps once with two quarters and a 15 cent note at a small town post office out near Rocky Mountain National Park, and the young lady behind the counter freaked and said I would have to wait for the Postmistress to come back from lunch.

TD >>

doh! it was you! sorry for the confusion. i remember you telling us
that long ago.

Zoins · June 25, 2008 2:33PM

I've spent SBAs

ProofArtworkonCircs · June 25, 2008 3:29PM

<<I've spent SBAs>>
Congratulations, Mr. Zoins. I compliment you on your courage. I tried to spend them back in 1979. The clerk would throw them in the quarter drawer and the fight would be on. In those days, I would become quite irate when shorted 75 cents. The clerks felt the same way, but had salty language to boot.

kiyote · June 25, 2008 3:35PM

Ikes are as obsolete as anything, and you can get them for about $1.20 circuated if ya get them in bulk. Cashiers look stunned when I spend them.

ProofArtworkonCircs · June 25, 2008 3:45PM

Here are some examples of items spent in change, all be it some time ago.

About 1943 my aunt was bringing me a nickel 3 cent piece, but accidently threw it in the trolly cash collector for a dime.

About 1955 somebody passed off a nearly slick 1780's piece of eight as a silver dollar in the college cafeteria.

About 1955 we had a collector spend 1840's Queen Victoria shillings as quarters in our store. They passed because they looked like Canadian quarters which circulated freely in Maine then. A Canadian Queen Victoria quarter would be unusual, but they did show up. Actually that shilling stuck out because it had so little wear. Old Canadian quarters would be worn almost slick.

About 1960, a young boy collector was given two near unc 1878 8 tail feather Morgans. He ran down to the super market and turned them in for rolls of cents. Those were the first 1878's I ever saw. They were tough to find in that period.

PerryHall · June 25, 2008 6:19PM

<< 

<< Since the state quarters have hit the streets it's much easier to pass French coins as quarters. >>

way the dollar is the franc is worth more >>

The French are now using Euros.

BAJJERFAN · June 25, 2008 9:35PM

<< <<I've spent SBAs>>
Congratulations, Mr. Zoins. I compliment you on your courage. I tried to spend them back in 1979. The clerk would throw them in the quarter drawer and the fight would be on. In those days, I would become quite irate when shorted 75 cents. The clerks felt the same way, but had salty language to boot. >>

Kids at the burger joints think Kennedy halves are fake money.

Bobk · June 25, 2008 10:31PM

I slide some wheats, IH's and buffalo nickels into circulation every now and then. I get a kick out of seeing the clerks face when they see what I'm paying with.

Connecticoin · June 25, 2008 11:08PM

I spent some rusty steel cents and dateless buffalo nickels recently.

ziggy29 · June 25, 2008 11:12PM

Do wheat cents count? I often spend those when I see them, assuming they're later date ('40s or '50s) and they're not an upgrade on the one in my collection.

Other than that, I spent a dateless Buff once.

Has anyone ever tried to use obsolete coinage when buying something?

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