How would you explain a US dime (coin) to a foreign visitor

[bcla]

The US 10 cent coin always struck me as odd. It's smaller than a nickel (5 cents), has a reeded edge, and says "ONE DIME" on the reverse. I do kind of get the size, as it was once made of silver, so there was some inherent value to the metal that a nickel didn't have.

I'm not sure what the history is of the name and why it doesn't say "10 CENTS" like the Canadian dime. OK - I just looked it up and it's a French word meaning "tenth". However, it seems kind of obscure - why not just "tenth dollar"?

 

[MickeySP]

I would say it's worth 10 cent. Not sure why any foreigner would need the history of American currency

 

[morgan98]

Not to mention the fact that there are plenty of strange coins in foreign currency as well. This aspect of different sizes, shapes and metals are not unique to U.S. Currency.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Explain which coin it is?

I'd say it's the smallest silver colored coin we have.

 

[SirDuff]

I would say it's worth 10 cent. Not sure why any foreigner would need the history of American currency

I'm not sure why many American would need to know the history of American currency!

 

[mondragon]

The US 10 cent coin always struck me as odd. It's smaller than a nickel (5 cents), has a reeded edge, and says "ONE DIME" on the reverse. I do kind of get the size, as it was once made of silver, so there was some inherent value to the metal that a nickel didn't have.

I'm not sure what the history is of the name and why it doesn't say "10 CENTS" like the Canadian dime. OK - I just looked it up and it's a French word meaning "tenth". However, it seems kind of obscure - why not just "tenth dollar"?

Serious??? Someone wants to know about us coins?? It's one tenth of a dollar, easy.

 

[Art 1]

Probably something I would never try to do. Maybe I would tell them to google it.

 

[msjprincess]

If they asked I would probably just tell them it's worth 10 cents or 1/10th of a dollar.

 

[bcla]

Well - I wasn't really thinking of the history, but perhaps trying to explain what it is to someone who might receive one as a change and wonder what the heck it is. The size and markings would be confusing to someone who has never seen one. I think the Canadians got it right.

 

[SirDuff]

Well - I wasn't really thinking of the history, but perhaps trying to explain what it is to someone who might receive one as a change and wonder what the heck it is. The size and markings would be confusing to someone who has never seen one. I think the Canadians got it right.

What's wrong with "it's 10 cents"?

 

[Dizlvr]

The US 10 cent coin always struck me as odd. It's smaller than a nickel (5 cents), has a reeded edge, and says "ONE DIME" on the reverse. I do kind of get the size, as it was once made of silver, so there was some inherent value to the metal that a nickel didn't have.

I'm not sure what the history is of the name and why it doesn't say "10 CENTS" like the Canadian dime. OK - I just looked it up and it's a French word meaning "tenth". However, it seems kind of obscure - why not just "tenth dollar"?

The first 5 cent piece was made of silver and smaller than the dime and it was called the half dime. Dime comes from a French word meaning 10th part so to me it doesn't seem all that weird or obscure. Anyway, I'd tell a foreigner that Google is their friend.

 

[msjprincess]

Well - I wasn't really thinking of the history, but perhaps trying to explain what it is to someone who might receive one as a change and wonder what the heck it is. The size and markings would be confusing to someone who has never seen one. I think the Canadians got it right.

Maybe I'm odd, but I always look up foreign currency before I visit the country. And these days a simple Google search would answer the question. Or just ask the person who gave it to you.

 

[Rhombus]

Well - I wasn't really thinking of the history, but perhaps trying to explain what it is to someone who might receive one as a change and wonder what the heck it is. The size and markings would be confusing to someone who has never seen one. I think the Canadians got it right.

Yes, they sure did get it right. They wisely replaced the one dollar and two dollar notes with coins, and they've recently eliminated the penny from cash transactions. The US should wise up and follow suit, and while they're at it, eliminate the nickel as well.

As for the US dime, I don't think it would all that difficult a concept for foreigners to grasp. Most foreign visitors probably read a few paragraphs in a guidebook or a website about the US currency system.

 

[sam_gordon]

perhaps trying to explain what it is to someone who might receive one as a change and wonder what the heck it is.

Well, since it says "one dime" on it, I'd explain it as 1/10 of a dollar. What more would they need to know?

 

[BadPinkTink]

its taken me 6 years to figure out American currency! In Europe we dont have names like nickel , dime quarter, we just call them 5 cent and 10 cent and we don't have quarters.

The American 5 and 10 cents (nickles and dimes) always confuse me as the 5 cent is bigger than the 10 cent, which is the opposite to what it is in Europe.

If you want to explain American coins to foreigners , this is how I try to remember

1 dollar ($1) = 100 cents
dollars are usually paper bills but can also be coins

quarters = 25 cents-large silver coin
dime = 10 cents -small coin
nickle = 5 cents- medium coin

The paper money is confusing for Europeans too, as American bills are all the same size and colour, just the numbers change. In Europe each number has a different colour and size

 

[jrmasm]

Yes, they sure did get it right. They wisely replaced the one dollar and two dollar notes with coins, and they've recently eliminated the penny from cash transactions. The US should wise up and follow suit, and while they're at it, eliminate the nickel as well.

As for the US dime, I don't think it would all that difficult a concept for foreigners to grasp. Most foreign visitors probably read a few paragraphs in a guidebook or a website about the US currency system.

What do Canadians use to tip dancers in Adult clubs? I would think coins would be a little cold.

 

[bcla]

As for the US dime, I don't think it would all that difficult a concept for foreigners to grasp. Most foreign visitors probably read a few paragraphs in a guidebook or a website about the US currency system.

I typically wouldn't. I recently visited British Columbia, and had no idea that Canadian notes were made of plastic sheets. Heck - the last time I'd visited Canada, the Loonie was recently introduced, there was still a $1 bill, and $2 bills were actually quite common (unlike the American version).

 

[Andtototoo]

There are far more coins in Britain:
1p
2p
50
10p
20p
50p
1 pound
2 pounds

 

[bcla]

What do Canadians use to tip dancers in Adult clubs? I would think coins would be a little cold.

US dollar bills perhaps?

 

[Rhombus]

What do Canadians use to tip dancers in Adult clubs? I would think coins would be a little cold.

Who tips a stripper less than $5?????? What cheapskates some people must be!!!!