# Statuary coinage: show me the money **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 24, 2022, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599 "2022-03-24T05:51:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/1 "2022-03-24T05:51:49Z")
I got curious about how many statues of coins there were. I managed to find seven. > **[Big Nickel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Nickel)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Big Nickel is a nine-metre (30 ft) replica of a 1951 Canadian nickel, located at the grounds of the Dynamic Earth science museum in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and is the world's largest depiction of a coin. The twelve-sided nickel is located on a small hill overlooking the intersection of Municipal Road 55 and Big Nickel Drive at the westernmost end of the Gatchell neighbourhood. > The Big Nickel celebrated its 45th anniversary on July... This one I knew about before googling, so it’s probably the most famous. Despite the fact that it’s a replica of a 1951 nickel, it was actually built in the 1960s. Not the oldest one out there, but at 9 meters across, is probably the biggest. Bitg Penny in Woodruff WI. This one probably is the oldest, although I’ll admit I haven’t checked all their dates. But it was built in 1953. [![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/886feff/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1060x600+0+0/resize/1760x996!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fwxpr%2Ffiles%2F201806%2Fwoodruff_big_penny.jpg) ](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/886feff/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1060x600+0+0/resize/1760x996!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fwxpr%2Ffiles%2F201806%2Fwoodruff_big_penny.jpg) Big Loonie, Echo Bay ON. Up near Sault Ste Marie. [![](https://www.algomacountry.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/echo-bay-ont.jpg) ](https://www.algomacountry.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/echo-bay-ont.jpg) Another big loonie, Churchbridge SK. Only this one doesn’t have a loon. It’s a commemorative coin for the 125th anniversary of Canada. [![](https://churchbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cibdollar.jpg) ](https://churchbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cibdollar.jpg) Big toonie, Campbellford ON [![](https://www.visittrenthills.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Toonie_1-1073x1341.jpg) ](https://www.visittrenthills.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Toonie_1-1073x1341.jpg) Big Penny, Salmo BC. Sort of abstract in that it doesn’t have all the details the actual coin has. [![](https://www.hellobc.com/content/uploads/2018/02/roadside-attractions-big-stuff-in-bc-11.jpg) ](https://www.hellobc.com/content/uploads/2018/02/roadside-attractions-big-stuff-in-bc-11.jpg) Big Quarter, Everett PA [![](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/pa/PABEDquarter_turning.jpg) ](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/pa/PABEDquarter_turning.jpg) So any others out there? Maybe somewhere other than Canada or the US. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/2 "2022-03-24T06:01:58Z")
Batman’s always had a giant penny in his basement rumpus room… > **[Batman: The 10 Weirdest Trophies In The Batcave](https://www.cbr.com/batman-weirdest-trophies-in-batcave/)** > > Batman's underground HQ may be the place he hangs his cape, but the Batcave is also filled with weird trophies from the Dynamic Duo's history. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/3 "2022-03-24T06:10:58Z")
Maybe Canadians just like big coins, for some reason? Big Maple Leaf: [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/48/Obverse_Big_Maple_Leaf.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/48/Obverse_Big_Maple_Leaf.jpg) Australian version (don’t strain your back lifting it): [![](https://goldiraguide.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/49-million-gold-coin.jpeg) ](https://goldiraguide.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/49-million-gold-coin.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/4 "2022-03-24T12:26:23Z")
> **[Dime Box, TX - Big Dime in a Box](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/4529)** > > Visit reports, news, maps, directions and info on Big Dime in a Box in Dime Box, Texas. No good pictures of it in the article. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/5 "2022-03-24T12:36:39Z")
When I see these, I want to build a really, really huge vending machine. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2022, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/6 "2022-03-24T12:47:40Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Maybe Canadians just like big coins, for some reason? > Big Maple Leaf: > [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/48/Obverse\_Big\_Maple\_Leaf.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/48/Obverse_Big_Maple_Leaf.jpg) That one’s not a statue. It’s a real coin, legal tender and all. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/7 "2022-03-24T13:00:40Z")
It’s not real, but in the other thread where giant coins came up I had to bring up the Giant Penny trophy in the Batcave > **[Giant Penny](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Giant_Penny)** > > In almost every iteration, the Penny is a memento from Batman's encounter with the Penny Plunderer. The Giant Penny is one of the most iconic pieces of memorabilia found in the Batcave along with the Giant Joker Card and the Mechanical T-Rex. In... > **[Giant Penny](https://batman.fandom.com/wiki/Giant_Penny)** > > The Giant Penny is a staple of the batcave which is one of Batman's many trophies. It is a gigantic decorative penny with the head of Abraham Lincoln on it and which weighs 216 lbs. The penny's head-side says, "In God we Trust", "Liberty", and the... > **[Batman's Weirdest Trophy Came From His DUMBEST Villain](https://screenrant.com/batmans-giant-penny-batcave-origin/)** > > Giant penny for your thoughts? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GsOqWyb-VDQ/maxresdefault.jpg "The Confusing And Gruesome History Of Batman's Giant Penny") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsOqWyb-VDQ) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/8 "2022-03-24T13:03:17Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s not real, but in the other thread where giant coins came up I had to bring up the Giant Penny trophy in the Batcave It’s mentioned in the first reply. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/9 "2022-03-24T13:06:36Z")
This claims to be a giant wooden coin, but it doesn’t have an obvious face: > **[A Really Really Big Wooden Coin](https://maps.roadtrippers.com/us/casey-il/attractions/a-really-really-big-wooden-coin)** > > Casey State Bank's contribution to the Big Things in A Small Town movement is this massive wooden coin. With a radius of 13 feet and a weight of 3280 pounds, it somehow falls short of a "World's Largest" title but it's still a nice little tribute to... > **[Casey Illinois - The Big Coin | Casey illinois, Girl scout trip, Big coins](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/casey-illinois-the-big-coin--295759900508397764/)** > > Oct 28, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Big Things Small Town. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/10 "2022-03-24T13:06:57Z")
Lateral answer to the question, but there’s the stone money of [Yap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yap), an island state of Micronesia. They’re not really “statues” but actual currency that is still occasionally used for traditional or ceremonial exchanges. The stone they are made from does not originate on the island and thus needed to be found abroad and imported on a raft, at great trouble and danger, which accounted for much of their value. Because of their size it is impractical to physically move them, but ownership is public knowledge and everyone just knows who owns which stones. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/11 "2022-03-24T13:07:00Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > It’s mentioned in the first reply. Yeah, but, as I mentioned it in the other thread, I felt I had to here as well. ---
**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:** [March 24, 2022, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/12 "2022-03-24T13:21:12Z")
Article from the Royal Canadian Mint on the million dollar coin: [Canadian Coins, Gold, Silver & More | The Royal Canadian Mint](https://www.mint.ca/store/mint/about-the-mint/million-dollar-coin-1600006#:~:text=The%20Million%20Dollar%20Coin%20%E2%80%93%20a%20true%20milestone%20in%20minting&text=To%20date%2C%20five%20of%20these,the%20world's%20largest%20gold%20coin). Five have been minted; one was stolen (by a giant who picked it up and put it in his pocket). > **[The saga of Canada's stolen million-dollar coin - Macleans.ca](https://www.macleans.ca/economy/money-economy/the-saga-of-canadas-stolen-million-dollar-coin/)** > > The massive medallion, made of the purest gold bullion ever refined and worth $5.8 million, was stolen from the Bode Museum in Berlin—and has never been found ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/13 "2022-03-24T13:24:46Z")
Not coinage but giant paper currency There used to be a giant $1 bill painting on the wall outside the Cahier’s office in building 10 at MIT. It disapopeared when they movred that office and turned the space into a lounge. But they kept a small reproduction of it around [http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/by\_year/2005/goodbye\_dollar\_bill/](http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/by_year/2005/goodbye_dollar_bill/) > [@](#): > > The Cashier’s Office wall was painted as a giant [dollar bill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_one-dollar_bill) for over 25 years (and was itself the subject of a number of non-destructive hacks).[[15]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_Corridor#cite_note-10KHack-15) The mural was eventually removed and replaced with a glass wall when the space behind it was converted to a community lounge.[[16]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_Corridor#cite_note-TeardropHack-16) A picture of the old wall mural is etched into the glass, as a historical marker. > **[Infinite Corridor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_Corridor)** > > The Infinite Corridor is a 251-meter (823 ft) hallway that runs through the main buildings of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, specifically parts of the buildings numbered 7, 3, 10, 4, and 8 (from west to east). > Twice a year, in mid-November and in late January, the corridor lines up lengthwise with the position of the Sun, causing sunlight to fill the entire corridor. Named MIThenge, the event is celebrated by students, faculty, and staff. > The corridor is important not only becaus... Hackers covered it one year with a $10,000 bill, more in line with MIT tuition [http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/by\_year/1993/10K\_bill/](http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/by_year/1993/10K_bill/) Possibly inspired by the MIT dollar bill, someone at the University of Rochester painted a dollar bill on the wall of one of the many U of R tunnels going under the Commons. It was subject to constant grafitti, so he used to go down and scrub it off (sometimes with a propane torch) and repaint it. When William E. Simon, the Secretary of the Treasury gave a lecture at the University, they had him come down into the tunnels and sign it. Some people argued that this made it “legal tender”. Although it’d be hard to spend. Like the MIT painting, though, it’s gone now. There’s a picture of Simon siging the Rochester dollar bill on page 92 here [http://waterworkshistory.us/UR/2000BesideTheGenesee.pdf](http://waterworkshistory.us/UR/2000BesideTheGenesee.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/14 "2022-03-26T15:35:22Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Big Penny, Salmo BC. Sort of abstract in that it doesn’t have all the details the actual coin has. Well, to be fair, they didn’t have very much room to fit in fine details. If they had included all of the details, some of them would only be a few inches across. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/15 "2022-03-26T17:49:23Z")
I used the wrong term. “Abstract” is not quite what I meant. What’s missing is a row of dots around the outside, the raised edge, and the initials of the designer. But there are other things wrong. The typeface of the lettering is wrong is probably the main one. Here’s a picture of what a real Canadian penny looked like: [![](https://www.images-apmex.com/images/products/1960-canada-copper-cent-bu-prooflike_244736_obv.jpg) ](https://www.images-apmex.com/images/products/1960-canada-copper-cent-bu-prooflike_244736_obv.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/16 "2022-03-26T17:54:12Z")
BTW, here’s a better picture of the Dime Box: [![](https://exploretexasblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/dime-box-dime.jpg) ](https://exploretexasblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/dime-box-dime.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statuary-coinage-show-me-the-money/961599/17 "2022-03-26T19:30:21Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > ownership is public knowledge and everyone just knows who owns which stones Just like BitCoin!