US currency

[fizz13]

Sorry if this is the wrong place, I just didn't know where to post this. I have been trying to find pictures of what is legal coin tender in the US as my mom just gave me a bag of coins worth about $12 if it is all still legal. I tried the US Mint website and could not actually find any pictures. If someone could fill me in on denominations and pictures on the coins so I know what I'm looking for, I would be really grateful.
Much pixie dust,
Claire

Also, what toll booths am I likely to encounter from MCO to the W192 and what coins will I need? Thanks.

 

[kandmwedding]

Penny - one cent - http://govia.osef.org/penny.png
Nickel - five cents - http://govia.osef.org/nickel.png
Dime - ten cents - http://govia.osef.org/dime.png
Quarter - twenty-five cents - http://govia.osef.org/quarter.png
Half Dollar - fifty cents - http://128.121.214.218/product_images/kennedy.jpg
Dollar Coin - http://www.insidenaples.com/today/graphics2/99/may/22dollar.JPG
Sacagawea Dollar Coin - http://www.webcom.com/intvoice/coin.jpg


There's some other random stuff too... but that's what I could come up with for now. Hope it helps!!

 

[Ted and Holly]

If you have any coins that are issued by the US and NOT in the above list, they are either commemorative coins or antiques. Old US coins can be quite valuable.

If you drive from MCO to 192 on 417, you can expect to go through 3 toll booths. The first two are $1. You can go through the "Coin only" and pay with any "silver" coins (that add up to one dollar, of course). You can also go through the "Cash and Receipts" lane and pay with paper money. I would not suggest paying with pennies.

The last toll depends on what exit you take. I usually go straight to the end of 417 onto Interstate 4 West. In this case, the last toll will be $0.75. Exit 3, another option, is $0.50, I believe.

Ted

 

[Ted and Holly]

Be careful, the Susan B. Anthony Dollar coin and the Quarter Dollar coin are very similar in size. They are often mistaken for one another.

Actually, the Susan B. Anthony is still legal tender, but it is being removed from circulation. They are becoming very uncommon in day-to-day use. I wonder if people need convincing that this is what they are. I haven't ever used one, though.

Ted

 

[NotUrsula]

IME, other than Postal Service employees, retail clerks are mostly unfamiliar with the Susan B. Anthony dollar or Sacagawea dollar; they will tend to refuse to accept them, thinking them fake. Managers usually will know that they are real. $2 bills are another story entirely; almost everyone thinks those are fake; I've known people who nearly got arrested trying to spend one.

Also, btw, the "older" green and white $20 US note with the small centered portrait is still perfectly good here, but if you have any left before you return to the UK you might want to stop into a bank and ask to exchange them for the new multicoloured bills. Many banks in the UK will not exchange the older-style bills. There is a new version of the $50 note coming out this month, and I expect that soon those will be an issue with UK banks as well.

 

[riopooh]

US currency is never outdated or discontinued - currency may not be current but a dollar is still a dollar - even if it one of the really big Eisenhower dollar coins from the 70's - and for "collection value" above currency value - the coins would have to be really old or in mint condition.

Banks and exchange business rarely exchange coins- too much hassle for very little return.

If you want to get rid off them - use them in pressed penny machines!! Disney cashiers are very helpful with exchanges - my kids favor the shiny pennies and were never turned away when they asked to trade a dull one for a shiny one or a nickel for 5 pennies - we never had spare change thanks to those machines!

 

[Ted and Holly]

While this may be true, would you really want to spend a Peace Dollar at face value?

Or a Morgan Dollar:

I know these are older coins, not in regular circulation, and definitely more rare... But you never know.

I assumed that the bag of coins in question must be old for the OP to question if it is "still legal".

It could happen!

Ted

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by Ted and Holly
You can go through the "Coin only" and pay with any "silver" coins (that add up to one dollar, of course).

Believe it or not the exact change-coin only tolls do accept pennies at least here in Orlando. I found this out quite by accident 2 weeks ago. I had to exit off the Beeline one day and happened to get off on one of those exits that don't have manned toll booths so there was no one to pay. The toll was 50 cents and all I had was some dollar bills and a quarter. I panicked but realized I had a stash of pennies in my ashtray. I put in the quarter and then 25 pennies. It shows on the toll sign as the money is adding up so I watched. It first registered 25 cents when I dropped in the quarter. Then I dropped in the pennies. As the pennies rolled in, it registered 27 cents then 38 cents and then finally 50 cents. I was very relieved.

 

[Ted and Holly]

You know, now that you mention it, I remember my friend using pennies when he got caught at an unmanned toll with his new Jeep.

I am trying to remember where I saw the sign on the toll booth that said quarters, dimes, nickels only.

Oh! Sorry, that was at St. Pete Beach. My mistake.

Thanks for the correction Phantom.

Ted

 

[DizBelle]

Here in Houston, if you come across on of the exit toll plazas where they usually have one exact change only lane and one manned booth lane and the booth is not manned, the gate is up and you can just pass through without paying. This happens later at night when very few cars are using the toll plaza the amount of tolls collected would less than what it costs to have someone to man the booth. They would make no money.

I think that if you were not warned by signs that the upcoming toll booth is an exact change only booth and it could be manned but is not, then they are not expecting to collect any money from you. What, exactly, are you supposed to do when you come up on a toll booth that you were exepcting to be manned and it is not and all you have is a dollar bill? Are you supposed to wait until someone shows up?