Comment on trip to the USA

I have just returned from a visit to California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

Great fun, visiting 15 National Parks or equivalent in 20 days.

While at Moab I went to a bank to cash a traveller's cheque, and asked for
$20 in $2 bills, $25 in $1 coins and $10 in halves. The cashier was
extremely helpful, rustling up 23 half dollars as well as readily supplying
the other items.

The half dollars were mostly different, but no silver ones were found. I
received one half dollar in change at a deli in Yosemite.
When spent I got a few comments, mainly to the effect that they should be
used more.

The dollar coins had a lot of duplication so I had several to spend, and I
got more in change at Grand Canyon. No surprise when offered at any time.

The $2 bills were accepted mainly without comment, although at LA
International airport my last one did cause a slight stir. Again, the
general comment was that they should be used far more. I did not receive
any in change.

As to those I received in change, I got more than 50% of the State quarters.
The oldest coin was a 1943P 'silver' nickel. The most obvious characteristic
was that over 90% of all coins received in change were from Denver.

I had such a large mass of coin to bring back my cabin luggage was only just
in the 6kg limit; that problem was insignificant compared with my daughter
who brought back a 10 lb lump of petrified tree!


--
Tony Clayton

Tony Clayton wrote:

I have just returned from a visit to California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

Great fun, visiting 15 National Parks or equivalent in 20 days.

While at Moab I went to a bank to cash a traveller's cheque, and asked for
$20 in $2 bills, $25 in $1 coins and $10 in halves. The cashier was
extremely helpful, rustling up 23 half dollars as well as readily supplying
the other items.

The half dollars were mostly different, but no silver ones were found. I
received one half dollar in change at a deli in Yosemite.
When spent I got a few comments, mainly to the effect that they should be
used more.

The dollar coins had a lot of duplication so I had several to spend, and I
got more in change at Grand Canyon. No surprise when offered at any time.

The $2 bills were accepted mainly without comment, although at LA
International airport my last one did cause a slight stir. Again, the
general comment was that they should be used far more. I did not receive
any in change.

As to those I received in change, I got more than 50% of the State quarters.
The oldest coin was a 1943P 'silver' nickel. The most obvious characteristic
was that over 90% of all coins received in change were from Denver.

I had such a large mass of coin to bring back my cabin luggage was only just
in the 6kg limit; that problem was insignificant compared with my daughter
who brought back a 10 lb lump of petrified tree!

--
Tony Clayton


You have more half dollar and dollar coins than most U.S. citizens will see in a lifetime!

JAM

On Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:44:49 +0100, "Tony Clayton"
wrote:

I have just returned from a visit to California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

Great fun, visiting 15 National Parks or equivalent in 20 days.

While at Moab I went to a bank to cash a traveller's cheque, and asked for
$20 in $2 bills, $25 in $1 coins and $10 in halves. The cashier was
extremely helpful, rustling up 23 half dollars as well as readily supplying
the other items.

The half dollars were mostly different, but no silver ones were found. I
received one half dollar in change at a deli in Yosemite.
When spent I got a few comments, mainly to the effect that they should be
used more.

The dollar coins had a lot of duplication so I had several to spend, and I
got more in change at Grand Canyon. No surprise when offered at any time.

The $2 bills were accepted mainly without comment, although at LA
International airport my last one did cause a slight stir. Again, the
general comment was that they should be used far more. I did not receive
any in change.

As to those I received in change, I got more than 50% of the State quarters.
The oldest coin was a 1943P 'silver' nickel. The most obvious characteristic
was that over 90% of all coins received in change were from Denver.

I had such a large mass of coin to bring back my cabin luggage was only just
in the 6kg limit; that problem was insignificant compared with my daughter
who brought back a 10 lb lump of petrified tree!

Tony,

When you were in California, did you go through Sequoia National
Park? If you did, you probably drove through my hometown.

take care,
Scott

Scott Stevenson wrote:
On Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:44:49 +0100, "Tony Clayton"
wrote:

I have just returned from a visit to California, Nevada, Utah and
Arizona.

Great fun, visiting 15 National Parks or equivalent in 20 days.

While at Moab I went to a bank to cash a traveller's cheque, and
asked for $20 in $2 bills, $25 in $1 coins and $10 in halves. The
cashier was extremely helpful, rustling up 23 half dollars as well
as readily supplying the other items.

The half dollars were mostly different, but no silver ones were
found. I received one half dollar in change at a deli in Yosemite.
When spent I got a few comments, mainly to the effect that they
should be used more.

The dollar coins had a lot of duplication so I had several to spend,
and I got more in change at Grand Canyon. No surprise when offered
at any time.

The $2 bills were accepted mainly without comment, although at LA
International airport my last one did cause a slight stir. Again, the
general comment was that they should be used far more. I did not
receive any in change.

As to those I received in change, I got more than 50% of the State
quarters. The oldest coin was a 1943P 'silver' nickel. The most
obvious characteristic was that over 90% of all coins received in
change were from Denver.

I had such a large mass of coin to bring back my cabin luggage was
only just in the 6kg limit; that problem was insignificant compared
with my daughter who brought back a 10 lb lump of petrified tree!

Tony,

When you were in California, did you go through Sequoia National
Park? If you did, you probably drove through my hometown.


Yes. Which town was that? We came in from the SW, the night a bishop
got shot in Visalia - we stayed in Three Rivers

I tried to reply personally, but your reply address failed...

--
--
Tony Clayton

Zorro and the Blue Footballs Rated BlueOn Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:44:49 +0100, "Tony Clayton" wrote:

The $2 bills were accepted mainly without comment, although at LA
International airport my last one did cause a slight stir. Again, the
general comment was that they should be used far more. I did not receive
any in change.


I've been in the U.S. all my life (52 years) and have never received a
$2 bill in change. I've spent a few hundred dollars worth. The
cashiers who receive them are always amazed.

On Sep 22, 5:44*pm, "Tony Clayton" wrote:

The half dollars were mostly different, but no silver ones were found. I
received one half dollar in change at a deli in Yosemite.
When spent I got a few comments, mainly to the effect that they should be
used more.

I readily get half dollars from the bank and they go into the 'odd
money' portion of the till but whether they get passed out in change I
have no idea.

The dollar coins had a lot of duplication so I had several to spend, and I
got more in change at Grand Canyon. *No surprise when offered at any time.

One Walgreen's near me always seems to have a few pres in the till but
never offered me one back in change. Then again I never asked to get
it over a single.

The $2 bills were accepted mainly without comment, although at LA
International airport my last one did cause a slight stir. Again, the
general comment was that they should be used far more. *I did not receive
any in change.

99% of the time they go straight under the till. I've only had one
cashier ever mention she likes to give them back in change and alas I
never saw the cashier at the store again LOL.

As to those I received in change, I got more than 50% of the State quarters.
The oldest coin was a 1943P 'silver' nickel. The most obvious characteristic
was that over 90% of all coins received in change were from Denver.

Nice score on the war nickle!

I had such a large mass of coin to bring back my cabin luggage was only just
in the 6kg limit; that problem was insignificant compared with my daughter
who brought back a 10 lb lump of petrified tree!

No wheat-ears huh? I've only gotten one wheat-ear back in change
this year.

Thanks for the moolah report.


--
Tony Clayton