Cashless Sweden And Coin Collecting

Who here didn't get started in coin collecting because of finding interesting coins in circulation? I was about 10 years old, stacking dimes, and noticed the edge of one coin was different from all of the others (it was silver). And that was the beginning of the journey I am still on. Why are there more Lincoln Cent collectors than 2 cent piece or 3 cent piece collectors? Because people know and are familiar with the beloved Lincoln Cent. It is the coin they had as kids.

Without that entry point into the hobby, the number of coin collectors will invariably drop. I don't think it will ever disappear. But it is not a coincidence that Modern Commem. issues in the 1980s sold hundred of thousands, if not millions, of coins. The Commem. sales are way, way down now, which has to mean there are less collectors.

If you think coin collecting can't follow in the steps of stamp collecting, where only the rarest of material has any value, I respectfully suggest that you think again.

But don't get me wrong, I love coin collecting!

That's one of the main concerns I have with how things are going now. That all these fancy online solutions turn out to be a big leap back in time, 32 years to be precise...

Is this an Orwellian reference?

I try to not make assumptions and had to be sure.

For what it is worth, we do have a pretty decent Eurythmics song to reference.

I feel like I'm entitled to respond right here right now

First of all,



These above statements are false. Though most buses do not accept cash to buy a ticket, rural buses apparently do. Nothing I've seen first-hand, however I was surprised when I asked my brother who lives in a less urban area than I do. The Stockholm buses don't accept any payment methods; tickets have to be pre-paid.

Secondly, I really wonder whether this article has done its research well enough. As for now, it's tricky living with cash since you'll be a "second-class shopper" everywhere, but you can still get around. Litterally, since tickets and travelcard retailers (convenience stores and information centres) pretty much all accept cash.

Numismatics in general seem to be slowing down but it's still a thing with some shops still around.

Unlike Mr. UltraRant, I have been refused cash payments, however that's very rare. I've seen a handful of businesses going cashless but these are places I pretty much never go to. Not out of spite, but rather their services don't interest me. Let's hear me say that again in ten years

I too do not know why Sweden is always the centre of attention regarding cashlessness. Norway, Finland and Denmark all seem to be at about the same stage of cashlessness by now. Maybe Sweden's bigger population size is giving us more attention? It's not like it's that different.

I try to stay open for both payment methods: electronical and physical. After all, it's up to the individual. It's only when restrictions are put up when I start reacting. As a person why mainly deals with cash, I can still get by and I'm not alone, but getting lonelier...

Oh- and almost forgot:

Plenty of (normal) people probably got chocked when they read the news a while ago: The popular Mobile pay app "Swish" might not be avalible for Iphone users (the majority of Smartphones here) since Apple apparently has thought up a new policy that apps must not be relient on other apps to work; exactly what Swish does. Apps like this will not be permitted on the App store. This is a huge backlash to the Swedish (and probably other nations') cashless society. Myself, I have a Samsung phone and I do not have Swish so this does not affect me. I'm very curious to see how this turns out.

@ Bryan78: Aldi is originally from Germany and has been expanding worldwide rapidly. What you describe here is a regular European grocery shopping experience.

@X2AN: We must have the same taste in shops, as I never ran into such a shop in Sweden. Over here in Norway, the bus is the only place where you can buy tickets on board with cash only. I had a few bus drivers apologizing for not being able to pay with a card, even. Plus that my local local local coin supply shop only accepts cash (but I guess that has more to do with the guy being into creative accounting).

We also have the Swish app here, but it's called Vipps. And I guess we have the same issues as Sweden has with Apple. Yet another reason not to buy their overpriced and overprotected stuff.

I'm happy that you also mention Norway and Denmark. My first hand experience is that it's exactly the same (don't know much about Finland, I don't visit it that often). I don't think population size is an issue: Denmark has about as many citizens.

The bus and tram cash payment option is more of a 'service product' than anything else. You pay double the price though, compared to a ticket bought via a travel card, app or machine.

I have been to Iceland quite a few times (also on a stopover when going to the US or back). Just contact me via PM if you want any suggestions for your future trip! Cash is still everywhere in Iceland, with the exception of gas stations: you need to buy prepaid cards in order to fill up gas, when outside of Reykjavik. That mainly is a consequence of the economic crash of 2008, for what I've been told.