Currency Conundrum
Jan 21st 2005, 3:30 am
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 808
Currency Conundrum
This morning at the local supermarket, a young lady was standing at the postage stamp machine looking at the change in her hand. As I was standing behind her she tuned to me and said in a very pleasant English accent "can you help me." "Sure" I said. "What seems to be the problem". "How much do I put in this machine" she replied. "Well" I said, "you'll need to put in 60 cents, the postal department loves to rip people off with these machines".
She looks at the change in her hand and scratches her head. "how much is 60 cents" she asks. "I'm sorry, I'm just in from London." I looked at her and said " you'll need two quarters and a dime". She blinks and asks "what's a quarter?" I then blinked and started expaining to her exactly what a quarter was and picked one out of her hand and showed it to her. "These are 25 cents apiece, it takes four of these to make a dollar".
"These dimes are 10 cents apiece and while a nickel is physically larger than a dime, it's worth only half as much. These small brown coins are called pennies and it takes 100 of them to make a dollar. However, congress recently passed a law rendering the quarter useless in any state with a "y" in its spelling- as Texas has no "y" you are perfectly welcome to use those quarters here."
"Whats more, the dime is only official currency in the lower half of the country. The upper half of our nation uses the "drac" which is a coin you probaly haven't seen as yet" "The penny can be used in most states with the exception of California, Nebraksa, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii. "But your in luck with the nickel, it's recognized in all 18 American states." "Oh, and welcome to the USA"
The poor girl looked to be about 18 or so and said was on her first ever visit to the US. I just couldn't resist yanking her chain a bit. Anyway, I showed her how to insert the money and get her stamp out. But the look on her face as I strode away was priceless.
Oh, admit it, you've probably pulled a similar gag on sombody. Probably some poor American visiting London for the first time.
She looks at the change in her hand and scratches her head. "how much is 60 cents" she asks. "I'm sorry, I'm just in from London." I looked at her and said " you'll need two quarters and a dime". She blinks and asks "what's a quarter?" I then blinked and started expaining to her exactly what a quarter was and picked one out of her hand and showed it to her. "These are 25 cents apiece, it takes four of these to make a dollar".
"These dimes are 10 cents apiece and while a nickel is physically larger than a dime, it's worth only half as much. These small brown coins are called pennies and it takes 100 of them to make a dollar. However, congress recently passed a law rendering the quarter useless in any state with a "y" in its spelling- as Texas has no "y" you are perfectly welcome to use those quarters here."
"Whats more, the dime is only official currency in the lower half of the country. The upper half of our nation uses the "drac" which is a coin you probaly haven't seen as yet" "The penny can be used in most states with the exception of California, Nebraksa, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii. "But your in luck with the nickel, it's recognized in all 18 American states." "Oh, and welcome to the USA"
The poor girl looked to be about 18 or so and said was on her first ever visit to the US. I just couldn't resist yanking her chain a bit. Anyway, I showed her how to insert the money and get her stamp out. But the look on her face as I strode away was priceless.
Oh, admit it, you've probably pulled a similar gag on sombody. Probably some poor American visiting London for the first time.
Jan 21st 2005, 3:42 am
#2
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Currency Conundrum
hehe...that's pretty good...but to be fair, it took me a while to get my head around the coin names...but then I hardly ever have any cash, I prefer debit cards, less hassle if you get mugged
Jan 21st 2005, 4:17 am
#3
Senior Moment
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,008
Re: Currency Conundrum
Originally Posted by Jabba1
This morning at the local supermarket, a young lady was standing at the postage stamp machine looking at the change in her hand. As I was standing behind her she tuned to me and said in a very pleasant English accent "can you help me." "Sure" I said. "What seems to be the problem". "How much do I put in this machine" she replied. "Well" I said, "you'll need to put in 60 cents, the postal department loves to rip people off with these machines".
She looks at the change in her hand and scratches her head. "how much is 60 cents" she asks. "I'm sorry, I'm just in from London." I looked at her and said " you'll need two quarters and a dime". She blinks and asks "what's a quarter?" I then blinked and started expaining to her exactly what a quarter was and picked one out of her hand and showed it to her. "These are 25 cents apiece, it takes four of these to make a dollar".
"These dimes are 10 cents apiece and while a nickel is physically larger than a dime, it's worth only half as much. These small brown coins are called pennies and it takes 100 of them to make a dollar. However, congress recently passed a law rendering the quarter useless in any state with a "y" in its spelling- as Texas has no "y" you are perfectly welcome to use those quarters here."
"Whats more, the dime is only official currency in the lower half of the country. The upper half of our nation uses the "drac" which is a coin you probaly haven't seen as yet" "The penny can be used in most states with the exception of California, Nebraksa, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii. "But your in luck with the nickel, it's recognized in all 18 American states." "Oh, and welcome to the USA"
The poor girl looked to be about 18 or so and said was on her first ever visit to the US. I just couldn't resist yanking her chain a bit. Anyway, I showed her how to insert the money and get her stamp out. But the look on her face as I strode away was priceless.
Oh, admit it, you've probably pulled a similar gag on sombody. Probably some poor American visiting London for the first time.
She looks at the change in her hand and scratches her head. "how much is 60 cents" she asks. "I'm sorry, I'm just in from London." I looked at her and said " you'll need two quarters and a dime". She blinks and asks "what's a quarter?" I then blinked and started expaining to her exactly what a quarter was and picked one out of her hand and showed it to her. "These are 25 cents apiece, it takes four of these to make a dollar".
"These dimes are 10 cents apiece and while a nickel is physically larger than a dime, it's worth only half as much. These small brown coins are called pennies and it takes 100 of them to make a dollar. However, congress recently passed a law rendering the quarter useless in any state with a "y" in its spelling- as Texas has no "y" you are perfectly welcome to use those quarters here."
"Whats more, the dime is only official currency in the lower half of the country. The upper half of our nation uses the "drac" which is a coin you probaly haven't seen as yet" "The penny can be used in most states with the exception of California, Nebraksa, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii. "But your in luck with the nickel, it's recognized in all 18 American states." "Oh, and welcome to the USA"
The poor girl looked to be about 18 or so and said was on her first ever visit to the US. I just couldn't resist yanking her chain a bit. Anyway, I showed her how to insert the money and get her stamp out. But the look on her face as I strode away was priceless.
Oh, admit it, you've probably pulled a similar gag on sombody. Probably some poor American visiting London for the first time.
That is SO tight!
Jan 21st 2005, 12:15 pm
#4
Vegas Baby
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Liverpool>Fl>Tx>Ca>Nv
Posts: 567
Re: Currency Conundrum
Further to comments on currency I was recently given 7 £2 bills at Walmart in my change I did not even realise that they existed. So i am hanging on to them as the cashier said they are very rare. Has anybody else been given any of these
Jan 21st 2005, 2:31 pm
#5
Powder Maggot
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Nuevo Mexico
Posts: 4,452
Re: Currency Conundrum
You should have told her to use a $20 bill. That way she could have loads of dollar coins - the most widely accepted coin out there.
Jan 21st 2005, 2:56 pm
#6
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Currency Conundrum
When the other half was in Vegas last week, the vending machines were giving out Dollar coins as change. Not wanting to be lumbered with these, he promptly put back the one Dollar coin into the vending machine, chose an item and got some regular change back...
NC Penguin
NC Penguin
Jan 21st 2005, 6:25 pm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,421
Re: Currency Conundrum
The wife was also in Vegas last weekend, at a trade convention.
The only machine she put any money in was the slots and she won $570, bless her little cotton socks.
And that was at the airport on the way home.
The only machine she put any money in was the slots and she won $570, bless her little cotton socks.
And that was at the airport on the way home.
Jan 21st 2005, 6:30 pm
#8
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Currency Conundrum
Originally Posted by rogerpenycate
The wife was also in Vegas last weekend, at a trade convention.
The only machine she put any money in was the slots and she won $570, bless her little cotton socks.
And that was at the airport on the way home.
The only machine she put any money in was the slots and she won $570, bless her little cotton socks.
And that was at the airport on the way home.
Jan 21st 2005, 6:39 pm
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,421
Re: Currency Conundrum
Originally Posted by fatbrit
Think Roge and Norm had better question their other halves very carefully at this moment and ensure what happens in Vegas isn't hid there.
Something subtle like
"Oi, NC Penguin, is your old man shagging my missus" ?
Jan 21st 2005, 6:45 pm
#10
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Currency Conundrum
Originally Posted by rogerpenycate
Something subtle like
"Oi, NC Penguin, is your old man shagging my missus" ?
"Oi, NC Penguin, is your old man shagging my missus" ?
Jan 21st 2005, 6:49 pm
#11
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Currency Conundrum
Originally Posted by rogerpenycate
Something subtle like
"Oi, NC Penguin, is your old man shagging my missus" ?
"Oi, NC Penguin, is your old man shagging my missus" ?
NC Penguin
Jan 21st 2005, 6:53 pm
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,421
Re: Currency Conundrum
[QUOTE=NC Penguin]Which hotel did your other half stay in? This will help me narrow things down...
She stayed in the Luxor.
I'm now wondering how she really got the $570 :0)
She stayed in the Luxor.
I'm now wondering how she really got the $570 :0)
Jan 21st 2005, 7:03 pm
#13
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: Currency Conundrum
[QUOTE=rogerpenycate]
My spouse left Vegas last weekend. He was at the airport on Saturday around 7.30am so I very much doubt any hanky panky went on...
NC Penguin
Originally Posted by NC Penguin
Which hotel did your other half stay in? This will help me narrow things down...
She stayed in the Luxor.
I'm now wondering how she really got the $570 :0)
She stayed in the Luxor.
I'm now wondering how she really got the $570 :0)
NC Penguin
Jan 21st 2005, 7:14 pm
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,421
Re: Currency Conundrum
[QUOTE=NC Penguin]My spouse left Vegas last weekend. He was at the airport on Saturday around 7.30am so I very much doubt any hanky panky went on...
No gossip there then, my wife left Baltimore at 7.00am.
Oh well, back to normal married life.
No gossip there then, my wife left Baltimore at 7.00am.
Oh well, back to normal married life.
Jan 21st 2005, 7:17 pm
#15
Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Bath, UK ---> Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 371
Re: Currency Conundrum
Originally Posted by AdobePinon
You should have told her to use a $20 bill. That way she could have loads of dollar coins - the most widely accepted coin out there.
Maybe if I keep them long enough, they'll be worth something
