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John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints |
Although both the USA and Canada have Dollars and cents and the same denominations of coins, the designs of both the banknotes and of the coins of the two countries are different. The banknotes are very different in design while the coins only differ slightly.
There are one hundred cents in a US Dollar.
Most prices quoted in motels, restaurants and shops in the USA and Canada exclude sales tax.
| Value | Front | Back |
|---|---|---|
| $1 | George Washington | The Great Seal Of The United States |
| $2 | Thomas Jefferson | The signing of the Declaration Of Independence |
| $5 | Abraham Lincoln | The Lincoln Memorial |
| $10 | Alexander Hamilton | US Treasury Building |
| $20 | Andrew Jackson | The White House |
| $50 | Ulysses S Grant | United States Capitol |
| $100 | Benjamin Franklin | Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
There are two different designs of each note in current use, except the $1 note. In each case both designs are legal tender and will remain so. The new $5 and $10 notes were issued in May-00. The new $20 note was issued in Sep-98. The new $50 note was issued in Oct-97. The new $100 note was issued in Mar-96.
Update: A completely new design of $20 note was issued in late 2003 which has coloured areas.
According to some sources $2 notes are still produced in small numbers.
Other sources say production ceased in 1976.
Yet other sources say production ceased in 1995.
$2 banknotes are apparently still legal tender but they are only very occasionally seen in circulation. Many people refuse to accept $2 banknotes, thinking that they are no longer valid.
Some sources say production ceased during World War II, while other sources say distribution ceased in 1969.
According to some sources these notes are no longer in circulation and are no longer legal tender.
Other sources say that they remain legal tender and an extremely small number remain in circulation.
| Value | Name | Colour Of Metal | Edge | Front | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cent | Penny | Copper | Smooth | Abraham Lincoln | The Lincoln Memorial |
| 5 cents | Nickel | Silver | Smooth | Thomas Jefferson | Monticello |
| 10 cents | Dime | Silver | Milled | Franklin D Roosevelt | An olive branch, a torch and an oak branch |
| 25 cents | Quarter | Silver | Milled | George Washington | An eagle (or the Great Seal of the United States?) |
The above table indicates the colour of the metal used in each coin but in fact none of the coins in current circulation actually contain any precious metal.
The sizes of the commonly used United States coins from smallest to largest are: 10 cents (smallest), 1 cent, 5 cents, 25 cents (largest).
The United States one cent coin has a round edge, unlike the Canadian one cent coin which has a number of straight edges in the form of a regular polygon.
Individual designs of 25 cent Quarter coins for each state are gradually being introduced. These are called State Quarters. They have exactly the same size and weight as the old quarters and can be used in slot machines in exactly the same way as the old coins. Both old and new quarter coins are legal tender and will remain so.
Various Dollar coins have been produced over the years.
The Silver Dollar ceased production many years ago and is not often seen except in Las Vegas (Nevada) and possibly other gambling centres, where it can be used in slot machines. According to some sources it had a portrait of Benjamin Franklin while other sources say Dwight D Eisenhower, so perhaps the design changed over the years. As far as I know it is still legal tender. According to one source very old Silver Dollars may actually contain silver and therefore be valuable.
The Susan B Anthony Dollar is no longer in production. It had a milled edge.
A new gold coloured coin is currently being introduced with a portrait of Sacajawea on the front and a drawing of an eagle and seventeen stars (the number of states at the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition) on the back. It has a smooth edge.
Major Jim Collins of the USAF kindly sent me this note regarding Dollar coins:
I believe the large silver dollars you may have seen in Las Vegas were either older coins out of circulation, or casino tokens used for slot machines. Each casino has their own design and not surprisingly casinos won't accept others' tokens; nor may they be used as cash (this a Nevada State Law).I also received an email from another source saying:
The silver dollars you saw in Las Vegas are in fact a different coin. These are very large with a portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Right now we are phasing in a new gold dollar coin with a portrait of Sacajawea, Lewis and Clark's Indian guide.
A "buck" is a Dollar; two bucks is two Dollars, etc.
The expression "two bits" has two meanings - either 25 cents, or virtually worthless. A description of an outdated computer as being a "two-bit device" is an expression of its perceived lack of worth, not its word length <grin>.
I have just been reading your advice on US (and Canadian) currency and I can confirm that the half dollar coin IS still in circulation - I received one in change in Virginia in December 1999. I also received a Susan B Anthony AND a $2 bill at the same time!
The "Silver dollar" to which you refer is usually cupro-nickel and has been since 1965 - if anyone sees a 1964 or earlier "silver dollar" it really is silver and should be kept as it is more valuable than the face value.
The design of bank notes is currently changing - there is a new one dollar in circulation already and it has a larger president's picture on it than on the old design. There is also a new dollar coin that has (very) recently been issued - I haven't seen one myself yet, but it is at least partly gold in colour and may even be two-tone, like the British £2 coin.In March 2000 Chris Paque of Duluth, Georgia sent me this information:
The new US dollar coin is exactly the same as the Canadian loonie except that the edges are round. I think that this coin is eventually going to replace the $1 bill and the $2 bill will be re-introduced. So far the only bills which have been redesigned are the $100, $50 and $20. The $10 was supposed to be redesigned in 1999, the $5 in 2000 and the $2 in 2001. Also Canada is in the process of redesigning their money. They will probably release a new $20 some time in mid-2000 or early 2001.In September 2002 Gene P Louden of Lakeland, Florida sent me this information:
Any US banknote ever made is still legal tender; of course, most of the older ones are worth more than their face value to collectors. (I've seen five dollar notes priced at over $4,000.)
Larger denominations such as the $500, $1,000 and $10,000 are still redeemable for their face value, but were taken out of circulation back in the '60's. Again, collectors buy and sell these notes for more than face value. Banks still use them for transferring funds amongst themselves but won't give any out.
Two dollar bills are still printed; and I've never had one refused as payment. They are not as commonly used as $1 bills, but banks will readily hand them out if you ask.
As to the silver content in US coins, all dimes, quarters, halves and silver dollars prior to and including 1964 are 90% silver (some specially minted coins still are). Kennedy Halves are still minted every year. People hoard them. I don't know why. The large silver dollar hasn't been minted since the Eisenhower series (1971-1978) which never was silver.
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Most recently modified 10-Jun-04