In the 19th century, banks issued the money. Sometimes currency became non-negotiable or worthless as money because the issuing bank went out of business. Sometimes a bank, called a wildcat bank, was never really in business. They issued currency as a money-making scheme.
-- Lee the Stamp Gal
When I was a young boy I recall my grandfather saving coins in a little bank in the form of a globe. One of my favorite things to do when I visited my grandparents in the summer was to ask to open "the world" -- my word for the globe shaped bank. Actually, it was sort of an apt name since there were foreign coins in there including early Mexican coins. I could see the sigh in my grandfather's eyes when I asked "how much"?
I'm originally from Texas and since moving to the northeast in the late 70's, it seems like I've heard of a different tradition each year. Last year was the first time I've ever heard of setting traps for leprechauns. You should see my daughter's room. There's a little trail of pennies, leading up to nickels (the newest varieties last), then dimes,
Well, that's a good question. What it really means is "dime", that is the more common ten cent pieces we carry as pocket change today. I found the term disme interesting and found it was actually used on U.S. coinage for a brief period back in the late 1790's. Further research turned um some interesting but probably little known facts. Probably the most interesting "disme" coin was issued in 1792 and was actually a Half Disme, or half dime (5 cents). This particular coin is very rare and worth thousands!
The debate continues to rage over whether dollar coins should become commonplace or simply reside in collectors' cases. Among the arguments against dollar coins are that they can be easily confused with quarters, they are historically bulky, and simply a change that many aren't excited about. There are many far more knowledgeable in the area of numismatics than I. Yet today, I am going to lay out my mind blowingly complex and highbrow reasoning for dollar coins.
