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 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,343 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
838 Posts |
I have a bag of 4-5 Canadian large cents that are so beat up, bent, corroded, etc. that I can't imagine even giving them to a collector. But they are identifiable as Canadian cents, albeit probably not legal tender anymore. I figured that, rather than hang onto them, I'd get more enjoyment from trying to spend them, or perhaps leave them in the "take a penny" trays. Here's your chance to live vicariously through my insanity: how should I spend (or try to spend) these? For instance, I might put on the Christopher Lloyd look and pretend I just fell out of a time machine. I could wander up to the "take a penny" tray and ask to trade my large cent for "one of those neat new small cents"! One thing for sure: I'll make a point to find the youngest, most clueless kid possible at the cashier. I get a kick out of that dumb, post-1990, "uhh... wth" look.   I'll be sure to post my findings here! |
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Valued Member
United States
292 Posts |
Penny scavenger hunt. Post somewhere your initial clue. State that the prize is a penny. Make it as simple or complicated as you like. Eventually someone will decide it may be worth a penny to do the scavenge. If they make it all the way they'll be rewarded with something that, while it incredibly valuable, is unique and old. You'll leave them with a memory and a token for their effort.
You could also leave them somewhere only a child would look. Those little toy vending machines that cost 50c come to mind.
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Valued Member
Canada
91 Posts |
i would go out and find some geo cashes and put them in. when some kids come across these they will get very excited to find something other then "junk" :P just an idea.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
Actually they are legal tender.
If you take them to the bank you can deposit them. This goes for all Canada and provincial coins back to 1858 . None have ever been demonitized.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
If they are legal tender give them to your kids to spend, that will create a stir at checkouts! I guess that in most cases they will be rejected because the checkout people for the most part will be unfamiliar with them.
A few will accept them, and exchange current coins into the till from their own pocket to keep them for themselves.
I could be a way of starting a numismatic interest and hobby in someone you never even meet!
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
838 Posts |
Nice initial ideas... Thanks everyone.
And that's cool to know these are still legal tender. I got angry looks in the UK when I tried to spend a 1970-era (slightly larger) 50p coin. By contrast, the recent history of UK coins has been a confusing disaster (though really neat for collectors)!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
Well I didn't mention the checkout because they prefer plastic at retail.
Anyhow, I am constantly releasing coins with value or interest into the wild including key date nickels, silver dimes,newfie cents,tombac and chrome nickels - just whatever. The point of the exercise is to get one person interested in starting a collection. I've been doing this for years and I'm hoping for just one.
Other habits - when kids come to the house (rare because I live at the far end of nowhere but sometimes the parents drive them) I pay off their events in nickel dollars and fifty cent pieces along with coloured quarters because no matter how many I deposit I always have some. I give out Christmas cards with Centennial one dollar notes, stuff like that.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
695 Posts |
Ugly is correct in saying that the coins are still legal tender. But a word of caution - before you start to try and spend your "Canadian large cents that are so beat up, bent, corroded, etc." take a moment to look at this paragraph from the Canadian Currency Act which states:-
Defaced coins not current:
(2) No coin that is bent, mutilated or defaced, or that has been reduced in weight otherwise than by abrasion through ordinary use, shall pass current.
R.S., 1985, c. C-52, s. 7; 1999, c. 4, s. 11.
If you live in a smaller community the local school might welcome some for educational purposes.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1700 Posts |
Give them to me for fun, if you want?   Edited by Petersun
01/18/2012 6:38 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
That passage from the coin act applies to all coins.
I'm just saying you can deposit you four cents and it's totally on the up and up.
Trvia
- we are the only country in the world where legal circulating currency includes George V coins (mostly nickels and pennies, silver has all been stashed)
In theory, you can pass any vickey coin at any bank and any BOC or DOC banknote...
I think that is COOL!
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Valued Member
Finland
294 Posts |
Well, after few months - what happened to these cents?  |
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Valued Member
Canada
95 Posts |
Yes, bibd. What did you decide on? People used to throw pennies out of the Bride+ Groom's car in Scotland. The resulting scramble was a real treat for kids.--A bit dangerous, I suppose--but I'd do something like that with 'em. Or, if stuck in a long line-up waiting to get in somewhere--reduce the crowd by chucking them out in the middle of the queue! Heh heh.
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Valued Member
Canada
220 Posts |
I also do my bit to promote the hobby, or stir up some new interest and possibly start someone on the wonderful journey of numismatics. Personally, I like to keep a few foreign coins on me, they can make good conversation pieces, and I have started more than one youngster on the road by giving them a foreign coin! As for releasing any oddities, oldies or silver into circulation, I'm too much of a hoarder, I guess! I would also love to know what the outcome was with these old cents...
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Valued Member
Canada
111 Posts |
Somtimes in public events, I'm disguise as a clown. I play ''magic'' with old pennies that I give to the kids.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 2,343 |
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Posted 01/18/2012 4:01 pm
