# Are Canadian coins "legal tender" in your state? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 21, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770 "2003-10-21T21:14:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/21 "2003-10-22T18:22:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NE Texan \* > \*\*Barry, that’s exactly what I encounter in MA, also. However, the vending machines will happily accept them, which I figured out for the first time only after getting Canadian coins as change from said vending machine. \*\* Really? I’m surprised. When I was growing up, Canadian coins were apparently made of some metal with magnetic properties (iron, I’m assuming) and vending machines routinely jammed if you tried to use them (the machines had a magnet to catch “slugs” which were typically made of iron). Either they’ve changed what the coins are made out of, or the machines no longer have those magnets in them… Barry ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/22 "2003-10-22T18:44:15Z")
We have no problem accepting Canadian coins where I am. Of course, I live in Toronto. 🙂 [sub]And **Gorsnak** , what are you _doing_? Next thing you know, they’ll think that metric is some sort of evil one-world conspiracy instead of the Obvious And Sane Way To Measure Stuff!! oops[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/23 "2003-10-23T02:35:26Z")
From Northern NY, yes, very legal tender. **beegirl13** , if you don’t mind me asking, where are you? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/24 "2003-10-23T02:41:10Z")
Canadiawha? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/25 "2003-10-23T03:17:34Z")
Strictly speaking, Canadian coins are not legal tender _anywhere_ in the US. Stores are not required to accept them (and probably should not), and banks will generally refuse them. Only US currency may be proferred for purchases within the US, and only the US government may mint legal tender coins. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/26 "2003-10-23T03:45:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > **Strictly speaking, Canadian coins are not legal tender _anywhere_ in the US.** Hence the quotes in the title. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/27 "2003-10-23T03:50:46Z")
Indeed. In fact, I should amend my post slightly. Businesses _can_ accept any type of payment they wish; it need not be legal tender. If a store wants payment in pencil erasers, there’s no law preventing them from doing so. Nor must they accept legal tender, should they choose not to. The term “legal tender” merely assures a payee that the payment is backed by the US government. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/28 "2003-10-23T04:06:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duke \* > \*\*I receive daily at least one Canadian coin, and often about 20% of my change is in Canadian coins. I think I’ve received a US coin on the Canadian side of the border _once_. \*\* A fine example of Gresham’s law in action. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/29 "2003-10-23T04:17:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Northern Piper \* > \*\*A fine example of Gresham’s law in action. \*\* New one on me. 'Splain, please? ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/30 "2003-10-23T04:23:31Z")
Well, **Q.E.D.** , I googled [this](http://define.ansme.com/words/g/gresham's_law.html). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/31 "2003-10-23T04:25:15Z")
A fine example of Gaudere’s law in action. :smack: I shan’t bother with the coding this go-round: [http://define.ansme.com/words/g/gresham’s\_law.html](http://define.ansme.com/words/g/gresham's_law.html) ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/32 "2003-10-23T04:26:28Z")
Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/33 "2003-10-23T04:29:25Z")
Got it, **Joe K**. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/34 "2003-10-23T04:32:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe K \* > \*\*Before 1988, around Albany. And, you know what—the rates were rather similar then, weren’t they? \*\* No, they were quite different. The Canadian dollar then was well over 80-85 cents U.S.; today it’s around 74, and that’s on an upswing. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/35 "2003-10-23T11:18:55Z")
Growing up, I used to see Canadian coins quite a bit, but not so much any more. When I was 13 I was in Hawaii and handed a guy in a store a handful of change and he holds up one penny (Canadian) and said, “Why did you give me this?” I shrugged and handed him a U.S. one. When I was in college, our dorm had a strict “no canadian money” policy when paying for anything at the front office. Of course their coin changer would dispense them all the time and they refused to exchange them. Bastards. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/36 "2003-10-23T12:40:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by godzillatemple \* > \*\*Really? I’m surprised. When I was growing up, Canadian coins were apparently made of some metal with magnetic properties (iron, I’m assuming) and vending machines routinely jammed if you tried to use them (the machines had a magnet to catch “slugs” which were typically made of iron). > > Either they’ve changed what the coins are made out of, or the machines no longer have those magnets in them… > > Barry \*\* I guess so. I don’t really know about why the vending machines would accept them, unless it’s simply that no one put extra effort into making sure they wouldn’t. It occurs to me that our vending machines don’t necessarily get Canadian coins when the change is filled. One of our company’s offices is in Ottowa, and so we have employees from here go there and vice versa. Any of these might be using Canadian coins (accidentally or on purpose) that simply end up in the vending machine - and then come back out. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Sarang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jack\_Sarang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Sarang)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/37 "2003-10-23T13:16:56Z")
Actually, you quite frequently find American coins up in Canada. At least in Toronto. Mostly pennies and quarters. Nobody ever bats an eyelid when you use American coins, giving or receiving. ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@Lady\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Ice)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/38 "2003-10-23T13:23:08Z")
Still taken by pretty much everybody here in Michigan, except loonies and toonies. At least in the L. peninsula, don’t know about the U.P. They may take the others as well. However, I’ve noticed lately that there are less than there used to be. Still alot of pennies, but fewer nickels, dimes and quarters. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/39 "2003-10-23T15:05:04Z")
As several posters have mentioned, vending machines don’t take Canadian coins…but newspaper vending machines, which are mechanical not magentic, do. Much to the dismay of newspaper sales offices in border areas. And, **godzillatemple** , Canadian coins are more “magnetic,” owing to the higher proportion of nickel in them. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770/40 "2003-10-23T15:18:10Z")
Here in Minnesota, which shares a long border with Manitoba and Ontario, most folks will accept the odd one or two Canadian coins given back out as change. But not loonies or twonies, at least not here in the Twin Cities where I live. That may be different the farther you travel north toward the border, though. If I were receiving, say, about 85 cents in change, I wouldn’t accept three Canadian quarters back in the mix of change I received. That would raise eybrows. But the odd Canadian coin is O.K. Incidentally, I don’t try to spend Canadian coins here in the States … I toss 'em in jar when I go home and then spend 'em the next time I visit Canada (I head up there every 1-2 years or so). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadian-coins-legal-tender-in-your-state/208770.md?page=1)