> I often hear people railing against pennies. They're useless, people say, and we should just get rid of them. I agree, but I think we should take it a step further: get rid of all coins. > Eric Sleator


I agree. But let me play devil's advocate and give you the other side of the coin. (Uh, sorry, that just slipped in.)

I don't use coins, so when I get them in change, they go into a jug in the closet. About once every year or two I count and roll about a hundred bucks worth, turn them in for folding money and use it to buy scooter parts.

You can't have a yard/carport/garage/patio sale without coins. Most of your sales are for a dime or a quarter.

Coins are great collectables. Nearly all have dates on them and they can teach you a lot about foreign contries. (All countries are foreign.)

We tend to decorate them with art, monuments, and historical people, all reduced to pocket size. So you can have the art of several countries in one pocket.

Some people actually like to jingle.

If you get bad service in a restaurant, you are going to need a dime or a quarter for a tip. That says, I didn't like the service, but no tip at all might imply that you are just absent minded.

The more grandchildren, nieces and nephews, etc. that you have the more you need coins. Really young kids are suckers for coins and may even prefer them to currency. It's no fun swallowing a dollar bill.

Back when soft drinks finally went from 5 cents to 6 cents, a lot of people grouched that it was only a matter of time before the government did away with pennies and Cokes would go to a dime. They were half right.

And have you ever tried to pass a Canadian five for a US five? Won't work. But you can pass Canadian dimes and quarters all day without getting caught.

Think of extra expense of trying to play penny-ante poker with dollar bills!

Have you ever tried to use paper money for a screwdriver?

Yes, we need coins, but I still plan to keep tossing mine into that jug.
Howard