Spending money!

[Colin Rice]

Hi,

In the U.K. here, we went 'decimal' in about 1971. Old coins found, say minted in the 1950's, can no longer be spent. In the U.S., can you spend cents/dollars dating back to the 19th. Century?

Kind Regards,

Colin

[pris]

That's a great question and I really doubt that the teenager at the local 7/11 will know any better than to accept a really old coin.

[Steve in PR]

Good question. I believe most would still be legal tender except you would lose money because their collection value (and silver value) is greater than their face value.

The folowing coins are no longer legal tender: Half cent · Large cent · Two-cent piece · Three-cent piece · Half dime · Twenty-cent piece · Trade Dollar

They are "old" coins that trade as a collectors item for a lot more than their face values.

[Colin Rice]

Hi,

Many thanks for the replies.

Kind Regards,

Colin

[cjoej]

All U.S. money is still "Legal Tender". The United States is one of the few countries that has never "demonetized" any of it's money.

There are some exceptions as with MPC "Military Payment Certificates" which have been issued in areas of conflict and issues demonetized for newer issues (as was done in Vietnam). Confederate States issues, Private Bank script, and Private mintages fall into this group also.

But currency and coinage issued by the U.S. for general circulation and some collector issues (such as Mint sets, Proof sets, Commemorative issues and Bullion coinages) are still exchangeable for face value as "Legal Tender". Of course you'd be less than smart to spend many of them for face value as much of the older ones are worth many times face value as collectibles or bullion.

Joe