Circulating/Spending Damaged Or Beach Coins

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,619
Morganator Valued Member United States 90 Posts	Posted 11/24/2016 01:10 am I metal detect for fun and over a year or so, I acquired about $4 in $ coins. One was clipped from a lawn mower. I took all my coins to the bank to cash them in and had the $4 in dollar coins in my hand. I put the $3 on the counter and asked them if they would take the clipped dollar. They told me they did not take damaged coins, so I said OK, and took the clipped coin and left the other three on the counter. They were tarnished, but not damaged, so I expected they would take them. The lady stated again that they could not take any of those because they were damaged. I stated that they we legal tender and were not damaged and were spendable. She would not cash them in and told me to spend them at a 7-11. I still got the better of them though as I had all my beach coins rolled and they were in various conditions, some being quite crusty. Usually my bank just sends them back for credit if I tell them they are beach coins and cashes me out, but since this lady was not going cooperate, I just let them pay me for the other rolled coins and left. My question is why wont a bank take legal tender if it is still recognizable as such? I know the mint will take truly damaged coins for a percentage of the value, but if the coin is still recognizable as a coin, I want the full value. * Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. * Report this Post to the Staff

Fuzzy317 Moderator United States 14463 Posts	Posted 11/24/2016 01:16 am I split your topic out from the other thread so it can get proper attention and more discussion. Report this Post to the Staff
NumisRob Bedrock of the Community United Kingdom 17931 Posts	Posted 11/24/2016 03:57 am I've had the same problem in the UK. Our nickel-brass pound coins tone to a dark brown color when buried, and, if you try to spend an uncleaned one, people tend to assume it's a forgery: everyone knows there are lots of fake pound coins in circulation, but most people wouldn't recognise a fake one if they saw it. The cupro-nickel 5, 10, 20 and 50 pence coins also go dark brown. If I'm on the beach, I often rub them in wet sand between my thumb and forefinger: this usually gets them clean enough to spend. Sometimes however I just re-circulate them by paying them into the bank in bags with other coins, or by using them in vending machines. Coins that are really badly damaged, such as those cut in half by mowers, I usually keep as curiosities! My Trade List: https://goccf.com/t/194596 My Wants List: https://goccf.com/t/191710 Report this Post to the Staff
n9jig Pillar of the Community United States 997 Posts	Posted 11/24/2016 07:45 am Remember that the fact that they are legal tender has nothing to do whether the bank should accept them for deposit or exchange. Legal tender rules only applies to debts, not to voluntary trade. Commercial banks do not have to accept damaged coins, including your beach dollars, just as a store could also refuse them. If they take them then thank them, if they don't then spend them or do what you did, include them in a roll or group of other coins where they either don't notice them or don't bother to separate it. Report this Post to the Staff
goldnugget Valued Member United States 372 Posts	Posted 11/24/2016 07:52 am I save all my Beach Coins from Metal Detecting and about 1 time per year I tumble them in a tumbler. Then they get spent at Fast Food Store's =Grocery Store, Gas Stations. bent coins ,that's another problem, I guess throw them back on the Beach next trip- goldnugget- Report this Post to the Staff
GR58 Bedrock of the Community United States 11951 Posts	Posted 11/24/2016 07:57 am Maybe it depends on the bank. When I get a group of damaged coins, They take them from me. They even took a $20.00 note my dog took a bite out of. Report this Post to the Staff
moxking Rest in Peace United States 17900 Posts	Posted 11/24/2016 7:28 pm Depends more on the person than the place. At my favorite bank there are three angels and an evil witch. Report this Post to the Staff
Debrajc Pillar of the Community United States 4211 Posts	Posted 11/25/2016 8:00 pm I would try a different teller. Sounds like yours was not sure what to do and erred on the side of caution. Report this Post to the Staff
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