h a l f b a k e r yNot so much a thought experiment as a single neuron misfire.
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There has been a lot of talk about small coins. Scornful talk. Disdainful talk. But a lot of people like small coins. The Treasury has started to realize that increased variety in small coins might be a good thing. I propose that idea be taken to its logical extreme.
The right to mint small coins
will be sold. Groups interested in making coins will pay a fee then go ahead and make coins at their own expense. They can be any denomination up to 5 cents. 2 cents, 3 cents - sure. They must meet a standard for durability and toxicity. Beyond that, size and shape is up to the minter.
Most of these coins would contain advertisement, along with the denomination. They would be flashy and fun. People would collect them. And they could still use them! Imagine a handful of wildly varying coins of different alloy and sheen. It would be like a pirate trove of booty from around the world.
Just 'cause I'm paranoid doesn't mean everyone's not out to bug me.
http://www.cbc.ca/t...0/rfid-defence.html
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 26 2007]
[link]
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Every shop-keeper would hate you, if all
the coins were different shapes and
sizes. They would be a complete pain
to handle. Also, anything that
processes coins automatically (not
vending machines, I guess, for such
low-value coins; but what about the
machines that banks use to count and
bag change?) would be screwed. |
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That said, I think the idea is excellent.
Just keep the size, weight, shape and
electrical properties uniform for
convenience and to allow automate
handling; but allow any logo or advert.
[+] |
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/keep the size, weight, shape and electrical properties uniform/ |
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Hopefully the coinmakers would see this as a sort of haiku challenge. I think electrical properties should be jettisoned: no-one is going to want to make machines that accept 1 and 2 cent coins. |
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True for vending machines, but what
about coin-handling equipment used by
banks (and maybe shops or whatever - I
don't know). These rely on the coin's
electrical properties as well as size, I think. |
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Canadian coins may be crasier than you think [BrauBeaton]. [Link] |
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Baked - private organisations in the UK could produce their own coins for general use up until (I think) the 18th century, when it became something only the monarch could do. |
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/These rely on the coin's electrical properties/ |
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That would pretty quickly take silver coins out of circulation if true. Maybe that is why I have not found any in a long time. Or maybe it is because I have become old. |
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In any case, this issue converges on the "shrink the penny" idea. The feds could make tiny coin cores of the correct electrical impedance (is that the word?). these would be 5 mm or less. This would serve as the core of the coin minted by licensed coiners. If the coin were flimsy, it would fall apart but the core would retain its worth and be redeemable at a bank. |
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Yikes. Big brother's going nano. |
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