Last Day for the Canadian Penny

**Casey** · 02-05-2013

US currency boring? Oh pooh! More like a case of "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." You should really look at some of the currency, paper & metal, that used to circulate in this country up to about 40 years ago. Some of the prettiest & most intricate designs. Wonderful stuff. It all had to change so as to keep pace with the counterfeiters.

I agree that the US penny & paper $1 bill has to go. You can thank both the Executive & Legislative branches of government in Washington, DC for this little slice of insanity.

Dark room, schmark room! My vision isn't what it once was but I've never had a problem discerning the US currency monocolors $1 from $5 from $10 from $20. Now there has been some color added to help the folks with really poor eyesight.

One last thing: How soon will Canada be changing all of its currency? Remember, a portrait of the reigning the English monarch appears on all of the bills as well as a silhouette in its postage stamps. So much for longevity.

Lino · 02-05-2013

Yes I understand Casey, you guys would be used to your currency and I don't argue that. My argument is with folks who found specifically colour-coded money more confusing than money that is all the same colour. Our money has all the same numerical identifiers as yours does, but coloured as well for easier identification. Why might that prove difficult or confusing? that was my point. believe me, we hear it often up here.

**rottersclub** · 02-05-2013

Originally Posted by 80s were ok

I hadn't heard or read about this. I find it very interesting. Thanks for posting.

HTH. As Duncan correctly pointed out, we unashamedly will "borrow" good ideas from anybody. We're just not that proud.

Now, about this miles, pounds and gallons thing, can you tweet your congressperson to get a move on converting to the metric system, like the rest of the planet?

**Scott Bails** · 02-05-2013

Originally Posted by rottersclub

Now, about this miles, pounds and gallons thing, can you tweet your congressperson to get a move on converting to the metric system, like the rest of the planet?

We tried that 35 years ago. It was a massive failure.

Never underestimate the power of American Exceptionalism™

**markinottawa** · 02-05-2013

Originally Posted by Brian Griffin

A $2 table dance?

That must have been quite a high end club!

BG

You knows it's going to be a very special evening when they ask if you have the quarter to use the juke box ...

quarts of beer .. 3 plays for a quarter... good times, good times

**markinottawa** · 02-05-2013

Originally Posted by rottersclub

HTH. As Duncan correctly pointed out, we unashamedly will "borrow" good ideas from anybody. We're just not that proud.

Now, about this miles, pounds and gallons thing, can you tweet your congressperson to get a move on converting to the metric system, like the rest of the planet?

Bah... this country's been going downhill since we stopped using furlongs, rods and chains. damn young people and this NEW math

**rottersclub** · 02-05-2013

Originally Posted by markinottawa

Bah... this country's been going downhill since we stopped using furlongs, rods and chains. damn young people and this NEW math

I can't fathom that remark.

**Trane** · 02-06-2013

Lol at the Canadian self-deprecation humour... brought a big smile when I needed it

Originally Posted by rottersclub

Uh, y'all understand that the $5 bill is the lowest we have. They eliminated the $1 and $2 years ago. Definitely hang on to your Newfie $1 and your Celine Dion $2 bills.

That's what we got with the Euro... and some countries (Nl and Finland) have never put in service the Europenny (or Eurocent)... the same rounding up/down measure is in application in those countries...

but yeah, I must say that the different coulours in paper bills is a big help... I suppose these new polymer bills will be using colour shémes as well...

**ronmac** · 02-06-2013

Originally Posted by Scott Bails

American currency is so boring.

I'd be more than happy to relieve you of your boredom, Scott.

**Hunnibee** · 02-09-2013

Oh great, so what am I going to do with all this Canadian change left over from my trip in October? The Exchange place in Portland wouldn't take it, only the bills. It was my intent to go back up to B.C. as a regular tourist, perhaps to the vinyards of Kelowna this summer, or rather more likely to Abbotsford just to buy those delicious Coffee Crisp candy bars!

However, if Canadian money is no longer good in Canada, I suppose they will become "souvenirs", part of my "I survived two blizzards on the Alaska Highway" display.

**JKL2000** · 02-09-2013

Originally Posted by rottersclub

The Royal Canadian Mint will no longer produce the coins and will in fact begin recycling them for their inherent copper content.

It's a beauty way to go.

**Progatron** · 02-09-2013

Originally Posted by Hunnibee

Oh great, so what am I going to do with all this Canadian change left over from my trip in October? The Exchange place in Portland wouldn't take it, only the bills. It was my intent to go back up to B.C. as a regular tourist, perhaps to the vinyards of Kelowna this summer, or rather more likely to Abbotsford just to buy those delicious Coffee Crisp candy bars!

However, if Canadian money is no longer good in Canada, I suppose they will become "souvenirs", part of my "I survived two blizzards on the Alaska Highway" display.

You don't have Coffee Crisp in the U.S.?

**rottersclub** · 02-09-2013

Melissa,

The Mint isn't making any more of them and they will eventually be out of circulation. Bring them with you on your next visit. They're still good!

And I really like Coffee Crisp too.

**ForeverAutumn** · 02-10-2013

Coffee Crisp are YUMMY! One of my favourite bars.

Pennies will still be accepted. Prices will still end in 1,2,3,4,6,7,8, and 9. It's just that the change you receive will be rounded up or down, if pennies are not available. I went to the supermarket today and my bill was $7.97. I gave the cashier a Ten and he gave me $2.05 change. So far, I'm up 2 cents!

**Progatron** · 02-10-2013

Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn

I went to the supermarket today and my bill was $7.97. I gave the cashier a Ten and he gave me $2.05 change. So far, I'm up 2 cents!

It seems to me this has been unofficially happening for quite some time now. I think the whole 'take-a-penny-leave-a-penny' dish at convenience stores was the harbinger.

**zravkapt** · 02-10-2013

Originally Posted by Progatron

You don't have Coffee Crisp in the U.S.?

Yeah, that's what I want to know. News to me. If true, I now have a reason to be proud to be Canadian.

**Progatron** · 02-10-2013

Originally Posted by zravkapt

Yeah, that's what I want to know. News to me. If true, I now have a reason to be proud to be Canadian.

Sir Geddy frowns with disapproval.

**zravkapt** · 02-10-2013

^That was a joke, but I prefer Lifeson and Peart anyway.

**Hunnibee** · 02-10-2013

There is no Coffee Crisp in the U.S., not even in Alaska! I discovered them in Whitehorse and everywhere I stopped on the rest of the drive, I just had to have one!

I will definitely bring the change with me on any future visits. I love your $2 coins!

**Progatron** · 02-10-2013

Originally Posted by Hunnibee

There is no Coffee Crisp in the U.S., not even in Alaska! I discovered them in Whitehorse and everywhere I stopped on the rest of the drive, I just had to have one!

I will definitely bring the change with me on any future visits. I love your $2 coins!

Wow, I had no idea! I've just looked it up on wiki and found this:

Canadian expatriates have long lamented the bar's relative unavailability outside of Canada. Coffee Crisp is available in Australia at some specialised sweet shops, and unofficial exports of Coffee Crisp treats (originally labelled for the Canadian market) to the USA have also occurred, especially in shops close to the Canadian border.

There was a petition at coffeecrisp.org asking Nestlé to market the Coffee Crisp in all US cities. According to the site, the petition succeeded, and Nestlé began marketing the Coffee Crisp nationwide in late July 2006.

As of April 2009, the marketing of the Coffee Crisp bar into the USA was discontinued by Nestle Canada. As of May 2009, Coffee Crisp was being imported into the US market by British Wholesale Imports.

Originally Posted by zravkapt

^That was a joke, but I prefer Lifeson and Peart anyway.

Now you've hurt Sir Geddy's feelings on top of it all. To the wine cellar!

**ForeverAutumn** · 02-10-2013

Originally Posted by Progatron

It seems to me this has been unofficially happening for quite some time now. I think the whole 'take-a-penny-leave-a-penny' dish at convenience stores was the harbinger.

I was actually surprised to see it start happening so quickly. The amount of pennies in circulation didn't go down in just a few days. But I guess if a store can't get rolls of pennies, once the cash drawer is empty, it's empty.

**ForeverAutumn** · 02-10-2013

Originally Posted by Hunnibee

I will definitely bring the change with me on any future visits. I love your $2 coins!

Why don't you just use the change in the US? You probably can't use the $1 and $2 coins there, but you could certainly sneak in quarters and anything smaller when you pay for stuff. I've used Canadain coins in the US, people don't usually look closely enough to notice the difference, or they don't care. Currency is as close to par as it's going to get.