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 Replies: 18 / Views: 383 |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
25906 Posts |
This 1936 cent was in a large mixed lot of US and international coins. Out of curiosity I put it on a scale: 2.46 g. I then put it on top of a dime: an almost perfect match. I think that someone tried to make a dime substitute to fool vending machines. But it doesn't seem that all the trouble would be worth 9 cents.    Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6650 Posts |
Quote:
But it doesn't seem that all the trouble would be worth 9 cents. Back in the day. I'm sure it was worth it |
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New Member
United States
33 Posts |
Quote:
Back in the day. I'm sure it was worth it Well, we thought it was. Back in junior high there was a study hall class in an auditorium with a concrete floor. Kids would put a penny under their shoe and drag it back and forth to make it thinner, then spend a few minutes rubbing the edges on the floor to make it smaller. I think the coke machines back then were 15 cents, so you could get a coke and a nickel back for 2 cents. What else is there to do in study hall? Study?  The other junior high discovery was that Mexican 5 centavo coins were almost exactly the same size as a dime and would work in any vending machine.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19287 Posts |
Think old school rotary-fed parking meters. A dime could be worth 20 or 30 minutes back then.
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Moderator
United States
190625 Posts |
Very interesting find!  For what it is worth, a dime in 1936 is equivalent to about $2.40 today.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
25906 Posts |
Quote:
Well, we thought it was. Yall were the bad kids with whom I was forbidden to associate. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
Edited by HondoB
Yesterday 3:04 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6623 Posts |
Could have been a desperate soul at a bus stop who needed a pack of smokes.
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Moderator
United States
190625 Posts |
Coffin nails.  |
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Moderator
United States
99364 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
25906 Posts |
Quote:Coffin nails. After 45 years of severely abusing myself by being a chimney, I kicked the habit in March.  Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2524 Posts |
I've had this medicine bottle around here with these in it since the mid 1970s that I had gotten from my Dad. He worked for the same company in the Pittsburgh area from mid 1950s until cancer got the better of him in 2000. The company put all kinds of coin operated devices in bars/pubs/clubs/lodges etc. The big money was in gambling and these were probably pulled from gambling devices (probably not slot machines as they had a glass window showing last coin played). They used all sorts of machines to sell all sorts of "tickets" until the law caught up with them, and then moved onto another. machine. There's also a couple of nickel sized slugs made from keys.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
75554 Posts |
Interesting find, HondoB. Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7135 Posts |
Ah memories....I was one of those kids. Later Hill's Drug Store moved the Coke machine behind their register due to these "dimes" I believe.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
25906 Posts |
Wow, ratman! Evidently this practice was far more widespread than I realized.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7655 Posts |
People have been fooling vending machines since vending machines came into existence.
My cousin used to fool the coin op laundry dryers in the 1950's by using a piece of duct tape attached to a quarter. She would put the taped quarter in the coin slot, twist the knob to drop the coin and start the dryer, then pull the duct tape back out that still had the quarter attached to it.
I don't recall if the laundry owner ever caught her.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2507 Posts |
wow, someone trashed an old wheatie. I've never thought of resizing a coin for any reason. we used to put coins on the railroad tracks when we knew the trains were coming, but I don't think I knew of anyone resizing a coin to use as another coin. Quote:
After 45 years of severely abusing myself by being a chimney, I kicked the habit in March. that's excellent, Hondo. how did you do it? Edited by MrPink2018
Today 9H 52M ago
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Replies: 18 / Views: 383 |
Posted Yesterday 1:09 pm
