# Is the quarter coin unique to the US and Canada? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130 "2014-01-30T15:20:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/41 "2014-01-31T03:16:41Z")
> [@EdwardLost](#): > > I’ve learned from various mathematical puzzles that power-of-two denominations is that most efficient way of making change. Obviously merchants and bankers of old noticed this too. Unfortunately, our numbering system is base-10 instead of base-2 so they made the very logical adjustments of bumping 4 up to 5, 2 up to 2-and-a-half, 12-and-a-half down to 10, and/or some combination. It’s quite interesting. (I don’t know how the 3-cent coin was supposed to fit.) The three cent coin in the US was invented to facilitate purchasing a first class stamp without having to make change(which was in short supply). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/42 "2014-01-31T03:37:27Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > And the nine dollar bill! That sounds queer. ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/43 "2014-01-31T05:28:27Z")
I have a Chatham Islands $3 note. The Chathams are a dependency of New Zealand and are rather remote. They minted notes for $1 through to $9 (or was it $10) for use during the year 2000. They were never legal tender but were an accepted form of currency on the island during that time. No, I don’t get how that works. New Zealand also has a $150 gold coin that is legal tender. Legal tender officially anyway. It was minted as a commemorative coin and did not go into general circulation. IIRC, only a thousand were minted and they cost $650 to buy. The point being that if someone wanted to buy goods or services using that coin then you would be obligated to honour its $150 face value. I doubt that it has actually happened. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/44 "2014-01-31T10:36:46Z")
The US did mint a [20-cent piece](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-cent_piece_(United_States_coin)) for a while in the 19th century. It wasn’t very popular and they soon stopped making them. The main reason was that silver coins were thought to get their value from the amount of silver in the coin. Since the 20-cent piece was similar in value to the quarter, it perforce had to be a very similar size. So they were frequently mixed up (they had virtually the same obverse, which also contributed to this). Note that it was a 20-cent piece and not a 2-dime piece. Not sure why they denominated them that way. > [@Chimera](#): > > [Although they now say 50 Dollars.](http://www.apmex.com/product/79031/2014-1-oz-gold-american-eagle-brand-new) Despite the name, that’s a very different coin. The original eagle was a specie coin worth (and labeled) ten dollars. It was meant for circulation. Not sure why they weren’t labeled “one eagle” instead of ten dollars. You’d think that if eagle were an official denomination, they’d be labeled with it, just as the dime is labeled “one dime”. What you linked to is a bullion coin not meant for circulation. Wikipedia calls it an [American Gold Eagle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gold_Eagle). It has a nominal value of $50, but that’s mainly because official coinage tends to have more appeal to gold traders than other forms of gold. It’s actual value is whatever the price of gold is. BTW, the US also once minted a [$3 gold coin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-dollar_piece). ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/45 "2014-01-31T10:57:35Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Germany used to have a 25 pfennig coin, Spain used to have a 25 peseta coin and France used to have a 25 centimes coin. All long gone now that they all use the Euro. But pesetas weren’t a division of a unit, they were the unit; the peseta was divided in céntimos and there were 5, 10, 25 and 50 céntimos coins in use as recently as the 1980s . ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/46 "2014-01-31T12:09:25Z")
All the Scandinavian countries had 25 øre coins. While Sweden and Norway on the way to eliminating the øre coins got rid of everything but the 10 and 50 øre in the 80s, Denmark instead kept just the 25 and 50 øre and kept them until 2008. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/47 "2014-01-31T14:32:07Z")
> [@j\_sum1](#): > > I have a Chatham Islands $3 note. The Chathams are a dependency of New Zealand and are rather remote. They minted notes for $1 through to $9 (or was it $10) for use during the year 2000. They were never legal tender but were an accepted form of currency on the island during that time. No, I don’t get how that works. > > New Zealand also has a $150 gold coin that is legal tender. Legal tender officially anyway. It was minted as a commemorative coin and did not go into general circulation. IIRC, only a thousand were minted and they cost $650 to buy. The point being that if someone wanted to buy goods or services using that coin then you would be obligated to honour its $150 face value. I doubt that it has actually happened. That’s not what legal tender means. Legal tender relates to settling debts, not making purchases etc. [Legal tender - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_tender) But that reminds me, when I was in Rarotonga I picked up a Cook Islands $3 note. As well as the unusual denomination, it is “notable” for being mildly [NSFW](http://www.panix.com/~clay/currency/Cook-Islands-3.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/48 "2014-01-31T15:01:00Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > Germany didn’t have a 25 pfennig coin. The pfennig coins were 1, 2, 5, 10, and 50 pfennigs (plus 1, 2, and 5 marks, and 10 marks commemorative coins). Maybe way back, but certainly not up until the introduction of the euro. This is correct. That’s how I remember it too. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/49 "2014-01-31T15:20:44Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Despite the name, that’s a very different coin. The original eagle was a specie coin worth (and labeled) ten dollars. It was meant for circulation. Not sure why they weren’t labeled “one eagle” instead of ten dollars. You’d think that if eagle were an official denomination, they’d be labeled with it, just as the dime is labeled “one dime”. > > **What you linked to is a bullion coin not meant for circulation.** Wikipedia calls it an [American Gold Eagle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gold_Eagle). It has a nominal value of $50, but that’s mainly because official coinage tends to have more appeal to gold traders than other forms of gold. It’s actual value is whatever the price of gold is. NO SHIT, Sherlock? Did you completely miss the quote that I was replying to? > [@OldGuy](#): > > The Eagle is only currently used with bullion (and maybe commemorative) coins Seriously dude, read for comprehension before you decide to lecture people. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/50 "2014-01-31T18:09:27Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Seriously dude, read for comprehension before you decide to lecture people. :rolleyes: You missed my point. The current Eagle is totally unrelated to the Eagle of yore. You and **OldGuy** are conflating the two. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/51 "2014-01-31T18:22:06Z")
As the point of it using the same name for a different purpose goes whooshing over your head. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/52 "2014-01-31T20:55:30Z")
I just did a quick search and found coins in current usage of 25 units in quite a few countries. Not all are fractional , as inflation in many countries has reduced the primary base unit to less than any practical denomination for a coin. Those with coins of 25 units include: Israel, Philippines, Turkey, Romania, Malaysia, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Argentina, Surinam, Indonesia. The Indian 25 paise was recently retired, and no doubt a few of those above have suffered a similar demise. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/53 "2014-01-31T21:10:45Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > NO SHIT, Sherlock? > > … > > Seriously dude, read for comprehension before you decide to lecture people. :rolleyes: > [@Chimera](#): > > As the point of it using the same name for a different purpose goes whooshing over your head. :rolleyes: [Moderator Note] **Chimera** , dial it back. There’s no need for the snark and rolleyes. No warning issued, but keep it civil. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/54 "2014-02-01T00:05:28Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Considering the dollar to won exchange rate is 1:1100, that seems a bit off. It’s worth closer to 50 US cents. Candy bars and dollar store-type items tend to cost a bit more in Korea, since they’re even less likely to be produced domestically than their American equivalents. The 500 won coin fills the same approximate role in Korea that the quarter fills in America (although a bag of a thousand of them is worth considerably more than a bag of a thousand quarters). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/55 "2014-02-01T00:21:25Z")
> [@Pjen](#): > > Pre- decimal UK coinage had the half crown (1/8) of a pound as a fully circulating coin ( the crown in later years was commemorative only, but worth 1/4 of a pound. Confusingly as well as the half crown 1/8, we also had the florin in circulation- 1/10 of a pound. So the coins were: farthing 1/960, Halfpenny 1/480, penny 1/240, threepenny bit 1/80, sixpence 1/40, shilling 1/20, florin 1/10, half crown 1/8. Not to mention historic and oddities- mark 1/3 pound, guinea 1 and 1/20 of a pound. > [@Kimstu](#): > > Oh, and if we’re talking about obsolete currencies, the old British coinage used to have a farthing coin that was one-quarter of a penny, and a “crown” or five-shilling coin that was one-quarter of a pound. The [UK 25p crown](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Twenty-Five_Pence_coin) (usually commemorative) is [still legal tender](http://www.royalmint.com/aboutus/policies-and-guidelines/legal-tender-guidelines), although not minted since the 1980s. (All of the kids at my school were given a commemorative crown for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 - I remember some of my friends just spending them straight away) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/56 "2014-02-01T02:18:40Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I just did a quick search and found coins in current usage of 25 units in quite a few countries. Not all are fractional , as inflation in many countries has reduced the primary base unit to less than any practical denomination for a coin. Those with coins of 25 units include: > > Israel, Philippines, Turkey, Romania, Malaysia, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Argentina, Surinam, Indonesia. The Indian 25 paise was recently retired, and no doubt a few of those above have suffered a similar demise. And Thailand, as mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/57 "2014-02-01T02:33:42Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > Germany didn’t have a 25 pfennig coin. The pfennig coins were 1, 2, 5, 10, and 50 pfennigs (plus 1, 2, and 5 marks, and 10 marks commemorative coins). Maybe way back, but certainly not up until the introduction of the euro. > [@Donnerwetter](#): > > This is correct. That’s how I remember it too. :o [German 25 pfennig coin.](http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/250163754705?lpid=82) My dad collects coins of Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/58 "2014-02-01T05:19:46Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > :o [German 25 pfennig coin.](http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/250163754705?lpid=82) > > My dad collects coins of Europe. Ah, well, under the German Empire, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/59 "2014-02-01T05:21:30Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The [UK 25p crown](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Twenty-Five_Pence_coin) (usually commemorative) is [still legal tender](http://www.royalmint.com/aboutus/policies-and-guidelines/legal-tender-guidelines), although not minted since the 1980s. Are these commemorative crowns still big cartwheels about the size of a pre-1936 U.S. silver dollar? ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130/60 "2014-02-01T09:36:09Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Similarly, Germany used to have 2 1/2 DM coins too. I’m certain this is not true. There may have been a 2 1/2 marks coin in one of the pre-1948 systems, like the pre-WWI 25 pfennigs coin we’ve seen. But these were different currencies that only shared the name with the deutschmark (DM) that existed from 1948 until the introduction of the euro. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-quarter-coin-unique-to-the-us-and-canada/680130.md?page=4)