# Re-define currency denominations **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691 "2016-10-25T16:28:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691/81 "2016-10-28T00:57:44Z")
Coins are $.25 and $1.00. Bills are $5, $20 and $100. Easy. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691/82 "2016-10-28T01:08:54Z")
I know we’re attached to quarters. But if you’ve got bills in $5, $20 and $100, you might as well have symmetrical coins of $0.05, $0.20, and $1.00. And only issue nickels as collectors items, and make them 2 inches in diameter, and sell them for $5. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691/83 "2016-10-28T02:08:09Z")
@ **septimus** : I was wondering about the generative rule. I quickly noted that {27, 14, 3} was {9_3-2, 9_2-4, 9\*1-6}. The factor sequences {3, 2, 1} and {2, 4, 6} seem suggestive. I also thought that multiples of nine was a generally fruitful region to look for interesting repeating additive/subtractive behaviors. But after that I crashed into a wall of laziness and ignorance. I’m lacking the analytic tools to make anything smarter than a brute force search. Care to throw me/us a bone? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691/84 "2016-10-28T02:13:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > @ **septimus** : … I’m lacking the analytic tools to make anything smarter than a brute force search. I’m in the same brutal boat as you. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691/85 "2016-10-28T02:44:20Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I like the way it (UK Sterling) works right now, so I’d reinvent that. > > That is, denominations in multiples of 1, 2, 5 only - no exceptions for quarters or five-sixteenths > > [ul] > [li]1, 2 and 5 pence[/li][li]10, 20 and 50 pence[/li][li]1, 2 and 5 pounds (I might bring back the pound note, or replace the fiver completely with a coin)[/li][li]10, 20 and 50 pounds[/li][li](if required) 100, 200 and 500 pounds[/li][/ul] Drop the small-pence, and this is mathematically the same as what I offered upthread (in terms of USD, but that doesn’t matter). People who think denominations like 2 and 50 aren’t useful, have just never got good at using cash. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691/86 "2016-10-29T19:42:35Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Drop the small-pence I see a lot of support for the notion of dropping the smaller denominations, but I think they’re still useful - you know, for kids. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691/87 "2016-10-29T19:46:28Z")
Most of the children I know are smart enough to realize that they can’t buy anything with the “small-pence” or the US equivalents. ---
**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 31, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691/88 "2016-10-31T02:05:31Z")
The Canadian government has reviewed the status of the nickel, but is keeping it … for now. > **[First the penny, now the nickel? Ottawa mulls future of 5-cent coin | CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/nickel-penny-canadian-mint-1.3821804)** > > An internal federal analysis shows the government has studied the pros and cons of the nickel — but Ottawa insists it has no plans to force the five-cent coin into retirement, as it did the penny. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691/89 "2016-10-31T02:10:21Z")
I’d have 95- and 99-cent coins. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691/90 "2016-10-31T02:47:09Z")
And a tree-fitty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-define-currency-denominations/769691.md?page=4)