Face Value... Hah

Columbian Exposition halves have been found in circulation...Not by me, though :(.

Wow, glad to hear this is more than a theory in my head XD

I sure wouldn't mind that happening to me :D

My lucky 1989 ASE:

I bought this for $1 in 1993 from a 7-11 cashier's drawer.

I have also received over a dozen impaired "S" Proof State Quarters in my change (all of which are CU-NI clad).

Bullion coins and NCLT commemorative coins have a "face value" on them because without a face value, they're not really coins - they're just medals. Most coin collectors don't want to buy "medals" - but they'll buy "coins", even at heavily inflated prices.

Yes, you can find some bullion "coins" from other countries that don't have a fixed face value, such as krugerrands and Mexican onzas. But they are exceptions to the rule. There are also other coins, particularly older ones such as British sovereigns and Dutch ducats, that don;t specifically state a face value on them but are nevertheless legislated as having specific face values.


Cash or cash-equivalents (travellers cheques etc) over AU$10,000 do not incur import taxes but do have to be declared. But goods valued at over $1000 have to have import duties paid on them on arrival in Australia.

In 1999 the same tax reforms that introduced the GST declared bullion to be tax-free, provided it was "bullion grade" (minimum of .999 fine for silver, .995 fine for gold and .990 fine for platinum) and in "bullion form": coins, ingots or similar, rather than as raw metal. But "collectable coins" aren't considered bullion; imports valued at over AU$1000 have to have import duties applied to them.

In theory, you could argue that the coins were "just cash" and therefore only worth face value and not requiring payment of import taxes. But you'd still have to declare them, and you'd have to hope the Customs people handling your stuff will be too stupid to realise you're trying to pull a fast one. Someone importing bulk .900 fine silver coinage from the US might get away with the "but it's only money" argument; someone importing gold double-eagles probably would not.

Commemortives do show up A few months ago I found a 1982 George Washington 90% half dollar in a teller tray, this week 1 of my $500 half dollar boxes gave me a 1989 D Bicentennial of the Congress clad halves only 163,000 minted

Yeah, I gotta keep checking the odd-slot for odd coins! Nothing like silver for cheap-as-free!

I always try to check out that 5th slot when I am in a retail establishment. It can be awkward trying to be inconspicuous, though. Sometimes if I can tell just from a glance that there are unusual items in that slot, I will come right out and ask, something like "May I ask what kind of coins those are?" I haven't been refused an answer yet. Of course, I wouldn't ask if there was a line behind me!