# What European tourists think of American money **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 11, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037 "2000-08-11T23:23:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [August 11, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/1 "2000-08-11T23:23:03Z")
As an American, I wonder how our system of coins and banknotes strikes those visiting our country. When I was in Europe, I noted that most countries have high-value coins equivalent to well over a dollar, and that the lowest paper denomination is usually well above five dollars. But here in our country we still have dollar bills that are barely enough for a cup of coffee (in a cheap coffee shop), usually aren’t enough to get you on the bus or metro, and will only get you one-fourth of the way to a pint of beer in a pub. Europeans, doesn’t this strike you as bizarre and ill-befitting the dignity of a great industrialized nation? While visiting here, did you ever get stuck for money at some point because you had a nice heavy chunk of change in your pocket, and thought you had plenty, when all you really had was $1.25 worth of pennies and nickels? ---
**Author:** ![tatertot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@tatertot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tatertot)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/2 "2000-08-11T23:29:01Z")
This doesn’t really answer your question, but when I travel to other European countries, I always wind up having something like 50-75 dollars worth of change that I can’t do anything with. The banks won’t take it back, and how much do you really need for a souvenier? The last time we went to the Netherlands we basically went grocery shopping in the last gas station on the way out just to get rid of it. Mmmmm…stroopwafels… Also, I wonder if they think it’s weird that all of our bills are not only the same size but the same color. And if they ever forget that we don’t add the sales tax in with the sticker price and get caught short at the cash register. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/3 "2000-08-12T00:24:03Z")
I think that our money’s ugly as hell, and it is more convenient if we had coins for the singles and two dollar denominations that are rarely found anymore. I like the multicoloured European money, and I think that the coins for small denominations is kinda convenient if you use it when you need it instead of breaking large bills to get more coins. ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/4 "2000-08-12T00:57:33Z")
I’m glad you mentioned the fact that all your money is the same size and colour - why when you live in such a “minority” aware society? How the hell do the blind or partially sighted manage to avoid getting ripped off in the US. Use credit/switch for everything ?! European banknotes are always blind friendly and you get letters to the papers when they change one and it is not considered different enough! ---
**Author:** ![astrangefish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bbce88/32.png) [@astrangefish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astrangefish)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/5 "2000-08-12T01:22:20Z")
Our banknotes are actually tested to make sure that they can be differentiated between by a colour blind person. Other than that our coinage is: 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 , £2 And bank notes: £5, £10, £20, £50, £100 Does that help any? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/6 "2000-08-12T01:44:23Z")
I will say this - I entertain clients from the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, etc. here in KC occasionally. And you know what? ALL of them seem to have trouble distinguishing our coins. Esp. bad are the quarter and the dime. I have absolutely no idea why, but it’s happened too many times not to make me think something must look odd about our coinage in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/7 "2000-08-12T01:48:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astrangefish \* > \*\*Our banknotes are actually tested to make sure that they can be differentiated between by a colour blind person. > \*\* Can you explain why some places on the Continent do not accept Bank of Scotland (Clydesdale?) notes, but will accept Bank of England notes? I refer specifically to when you try to use them at the skim-artists huts (also known as Bureau’s of Exchange)? ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/8 "2000-08-12T02:42:56Z")
Err, basically 'cos they don’t know their arses from their elbows. Scottish notes are legal tender in the whole of the UK so cannot see any reason why they should not change them. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/9 "2000-08-12T15:25:24Z")
Why are there Scottish £1 notes but no English or (AFAIK) Northern Irish ones? And why do you usually only _see_ Bank of Scotland notes in Scotland, and so forth, while you can collect a complete set of bills from all the Federal Reserve banks anywhere in the U.S.? Personally, I think the dollar bill is just about the only American item that actually makes more sense than the European version. Most wallets and billfolds are not designed to hold large quantities of change, and if you try to carry it in your pocket you end up with your pants around your knees. Granted, coins are more convenient for vending machines, but the last thing I need is an incentive to put more money into those things anyway. On the other hand, I have _never_ understood why U.S. dimes and quarters say “ONE DIME” and “QUARTER DOLLAR” rather than “10 CENTS” and “25 CENTS.” I think this is probably the source of Anthracite’s clients’ problems. ---
**Author:** ![blokeychap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ab097/32.png) [@blokeychap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blokeychap)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2000, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/10 "2000-08-12T15:53:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine \* > \*\*Personally, I think the dollar bill is just about the only American item that actually makes more sense than the European version. Most wallets and billfolds are not designed to hold large quantities of change, and if you try to carry it in your pocket you end up with your pants around your knees. Granted, coins are more convenient for vending machines, but the last thing I need is an incentive to put more money into those things anyway. \*\* Here in Ireland we got rid of our £1 notes about ten years ago and have not been laden with masses of change as a result. I’m sure most pockets can handle up to 5 pound coins and if you have more you can change it into £5 notes instead. I find that it’s the little change like 1p, 2p, 5p and 10p coins that weigh you down and that’s why I have a change bottle that I empty out every few months. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/11 "2000-09-19T18:25:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ssskuggiii \* > \*\*I think that our money’s ugly as hell, and it is more convenient if we had coins for the singles and two dollar denominations that are rarely found anymore. I like the multicoloured European money, and I think that the coins for small denominations is kinda convenient if you use it when you need it instead of breaking large bills to get more coins. \*\* ssskuggiii, As you probably guessed, I am with you on this. We have dollar coins now, but the problem is you almost never get them in change from store clerks. Also I’ve been told that Brink’s, the major armored transport company in the U.S. is making things difficult. I forget just why they don’t like the new denomination, but they had some reason. On the other hand,there’s usually nothing to stop you from getting them en masse and using them yourself. My bank doesn’t usually have them, but I get mine by going to a post office and buying one stamp with a twenty, then I get 19 dollar coins among the change. A lot of the coins will be SBA dollars, but I am finding that the proportion of Sacagewea dollars is increasing each time I do this. Once you’ve got them…use them. Use them to make up the extra one-to-four dollars in your grocery tab. Buy your next pull of beer in a tavern with a few. Use them at the video store. If enough people use them in stores, then Brinks will have to capitulate. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/12 "2000-09-19T18:36:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine \* > On the other hand, I have _never_ understood why U.S. dimes and quarters say “ONE DIME” and “QUARTER DOLLAR” rather than “10 CENTS” and “25 CENTS.” I think this is probably the source of Anthracite’s clients’ problems. I don’t think we’re the only ones with this problem. I seem to remember running around London going “what the hell is a shilling? How much is it worth?” because all it said on the damn coin was “1 shilling.” This was back in 1985, so maybe they’ve changed it since. But it’s very confusing. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/13 "2000-09-19T18:42:57Z")
Frankly, I think American money is hideous, and I’m happy that Canadian money, worthless as it may be, has pretty colours and pretty pictures on it. I also love the fact that since we have $1 and $2 coins (loonies and twonies), we can go out with a pocketful of change and actually BUY stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Suo\_Na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Suo\_Na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suo_Na)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/14 "2000-09-19T18:43:24Z")
I’m happy with American dimes. They’re exactly the same size and weight as Toronto Transit Commission tokens. Although, I’d hate to accidently “spend” a TTC token (worth about $2 Cdn) here. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/15 "2000-09-19T18:58:43Z")
By the way, our coins say 1 CENT, 5 CENTS, 10 CENTS, 25 CENTS, 1 DOLLAR, and 2 DOLLARS, which have the advantage of being both clear and bilingual. As for the notes, they say CINQ - DOLLARS - FIVE, TEN - DOLLARS - DIX, VIGNT - DOLLARS - TWENTY, FIFTY - DOLLARS - CINQUANTE, CENT - DOLLARS - ONE HUNDRED, ONE THOUSAND - DOLLARS - MILLE. Just for our information, what images and colours are on your currency? Especially the European posters? Canadian currency: ```auto | Obverse | Reverse | Colour $0.01 | The queen | Maple leaf | Copper $0.05 | The queen | Beaver | Silver $0.10 | The queen | *Bluenose* | | | (famous schooner) | Silver $0.25 | The queen | Caribou | Silver $0.50 | The queen | Coat of arms | Silver * $1.00 | The queen | Loon | Gold $2.00 | The queen | Polar bear | Silver and gold $5.00 | Laurier | Kingfisher | Blue $10.00 | MacDonald | Osprey | Purple $20.00 | The queen | Loon | Green $50.00 | King | Snowy owl | Red $100.00 | Borden | Canada goose | Brown $1000.00| The queen | Pine grosbeak | Magenta ``` - There are virtually no half-dollars in circulation. (Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Sir John A. MacDonald, William Lyon Mackenzie King, and Robert Borden are important former prime ministers.) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/16 "2000-09-19T19:02:12Z")
Whoops, I forgot to add. You can see pictures of Canadian banknotes at [http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes/general/character/1986\_1000.htm](http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes/general/character/1986_1000.htm) and of Canadian coins at [http://www.rcmint.ca/products/en/Main.cfm?Area=Products&Section\_Id=2](http://www.rcmint.ca/products/en/Main.cfm?Area=Products&Section_Id=2) BTW: Suo Na, my Torontonian ex agrees with you about TTC tokens. I kept them in a separate pocket in my wallet when I was in Toronto. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/17 "2000-09-19T19:39:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Athena \* > I don’t think we’re the only ones with this problem. I seem to remember running around London going “what the hell is a shilling? How much is it worth?” because all it said on the damn coin was “1 shilling.” > > This was back in 1985, so maybe they’ve changed it since. But it’s very confusing. Yep, those coins aren’t in circulation any more. For many years there were one and two-shilling pieces available, which were the same as five new pence (5p) and ten new pence (10p) respectively. Nowadays all coinage is strictly decimal. As a tourist in the States I was very confused by the notes all looking the same size and colour. Coins were slightly less of a problem, but I was used to particular sizes for particular values (i.e. the smaller the coin, the smaller the value, unless they’re a different weight and colour like £1 coins). Using coins with different colours/metals, different thicknesses and different “edges” (e.g. round vs 5-sided) helps differentiate. The best-designed banknotes I ever used were Australian ones; comparatively brightly coloured and made of a plasticky material that was near impossible to tear and was also washing-machine-proof. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/18 "2000-09-19T20:35:23Z")
Call me insular, but I don’t care what other countries think about our money. I don’t pass judgement on theirs, because it literally is THEIR business. If I go somewhere else I use their money, (attempt) to speak their language and so forth. It’s the least I can do. So I expect the same courtesy when folks from other countries visit us. So all of our moeny is (ugly), (the same size/color), (in denominations they find unusual/inconvenient). Get used to it, it is OUR business. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/19 "2000-09-19T20:41:34Z")
I think constructive criticism from a practical point of view is absolutely fair. Coins and banknotes have a practical use that, IMHO, far outweighs any, er, “foibles” in their design. I’d listen to any suggestions on how to improve British currency (dumping 1p and 2p pieces would be a start…). ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037/20 "2000-09-19T21:09:47Z")
If we do away with the dollar bill, how do we ‘tip’ the dancers at strip clubs? Not table dances, but on the stage. As it is, they expect a couple bucks per dance – but five is too extravagent. The relevant problem being, strippers don’t really have a good spot to put coins. Not without crossing some hygiene barriers I don’t care to discuss, anyway. (We’ve pretty much got that sort of thing confined to the Orient now, let’s not start importing it.) Are we heading back to the days of coin purses? And cutpurses? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-european-tourists-think-of-american-money/29037.md?page=2)