Melissa's money

BJ · Post by BJ » Wed Dec 06, 2000 1:15 am

Good eye for detail (so to speak)!This is an older strip, drawn the week of the Sacagawea dollar's release. At the time, I hadn't even seen one of these things, so all I had to go on was a couple of news releases, mostly comparing it to the Susan B.The night I was going to ink it, I got a look at one, and immediately went home to erase the ridges I had drawn on the coin in the final panel. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">I think I mention this all in the annotations, which should show up on Friday once this strip is archived.As for Melissa, it's not something that'll trip her up, it's just one more coin to keep track of. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">Another thing that I found out about the gold dollar: supposedly, it has a different electromagnetic signature than a quarter, so vending machines can tell 'em apart. I don't have the nerve to try it, tho.Thanks for the kind words! I hope I can keep this up, myself!------------------
I might be an idiot, but indeed I am <A HREF="http://www.jobeth.net" TARGET=_blank>no fool</A>.

Zodo · Post by **Zodo** » Wed Dec 06, 2000 1:32 am

Actually, I can tell the difference between the two coins in my pocket. The golden dollar is heavier, larger in diameter, and thicker.I've also been told that it's actually the same size as the Susan B. dollar, but I haven't been able to do a side by side comparison.At GenCon, I saw one guy who paid for stuff with golden dollars. He said he did so to make sure they get into circulation. I thought that was neat, but everytime I go to the bank to get some, they don't have any.Pft. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/tongue.gif">-Zodo
aka BUNNY!
Consummate Troublemakernow with 5 fewer teeth!

Kageru · Post by **Kageru** » Wed Dec 06, 2000 3:24 am

*delurk*Hmm.. well, I personally can tell by the conductivity of the metal, I suppose. The metal simply 'feels' different in my hand. But then again, people in my family tend to disrupt highly sensitive electronics by simply touching them, so Mileage May Vary...------------------
The Merry Deceiver - Kageru

BJ · Post by BJ » Wed Dec 06, 2000 3:37 am

Toothless Bunny?! OUCH!Last time I went to get stamps at a vending machine, it spit out four gold dollars and a Susan B. They's durn close!So if your bank doesn't have any, take a chance on a postage vending machine.

Rhakir · Post by **Rhakir** » Wed Dec 06, 2000 11:25 am

Just noticed today's strip and had to mention something about the Sacagawea coin. It has a smooth edge, unlike the US quarter, and a wider ridge on both sides.
<A HREF="http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/gol ... llar_specs" TARGET=_blank>http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/gol ... r_specs</A> A friend of mine is blind, and she's the one who pointed out the difference to me. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/tongue.gif"> Keep up the great work! Wonderful stuff!

BJ · Post by BJ » Thu Dec 07, 2000 1:17 am

You'd think with that many people working on the design team, SOMEONE would've said, "Hey! This is way close to a quarter! How about we make it REALLY obvious that it's a dollar coin!"But no. Government at work. We can't even elect a president. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/tongue.gif">I was hoping for something like Great Britain's pound coin; a big, thick, stubby coin to be reckoned with.Sorry: "With which to be reckoned."

EteRock · Post by **EteRock** » Thu Dec 07, 2000 1:24 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by zodo:

I've also been told that it's actually the same size as the Susan B. dollar, but I haven't been able to do a side by side comparison.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I have a Susan B. but no gold one. The Susan B. is slightly wider and thicker than a quarter. It's about a thick as a nickel.My favorite would have to be the Eisenhower dollar coin, which I have two of.
------------------
Hell's fool.<A HREF="http://smapdi.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Smapdi</A>I do not accept this world. To it I shall always say "No".

EteRock · Post by **EteRock** » Thu Dec 07, 2000 1:27 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by BJ:
I was hoping for something like Great Britain's pound coin; a big, thick, stubby coin to be reckoned with.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Like the Eisenhower coin? (I love that coin) Maybe they should put a hole in the center of it. That should tell them apart <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">------------------
Hell's fool.<A HREF="http://smapdi.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Smapdi</A>I do not accept this world. To it I shall always say "No".

BJ · Post by BJ » Thu Dec 07, 2000 2:39 am

That would ROCK! I could wear my change around my neck!

DeMatt · Post by **DeMatt** » Thu Dec 07, 2000 12:31 pm

Feels just like a quarter... not.
That's why the CDN loonie has smooth sides (11) and is larger, and the CDN twoonie has alternating ridged and smooth curved parts and is even larger.
Guess who's coin is working better...

Fake_soup · Post by **Fake_soup** » Sun Dec 10, 2000 7:06 am

stupid questions <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">1. why does melissa fold her money?2. how does she fold it?3. how does she know what the dollars are worth?excuse me ingnornace but being that i don't know anyone that happens to be blind i have to ask <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">------------------
"half awake half a world away, all my past mistake and every wasted day, proves that I'll never change,I'll always stay the same, I wouldn't have it any other way" Less Than Jake, Border & Boundaries, Gainesville Rock City

Michael Martin · Post by **Michael Martin** » Sun Dec 10, 2000 8:17 am

This is all second hand (I don't know any blind people, but some of my friends have helped them out before), so those who know more directly can correct this. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by fake_soup:
1. why does melissa fold her money?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>So that she can determine denominations by shape.2. how does she fold it?One way of doing it would be: $1: unfolded; $5: folded in half so it's short and fat; $10: folded in half so it's long and skinny; $20: folded in quarters. This way the most commonly used denominations are physically largest and most easily accessible. Obviously, each person will have their own system.3. how does she know what the dollars are worth?I'm assuming this means, "How does she know how to fold it the first time?" ... and the answer, AFAIK, is still, "have a sighted friend help you out." Which is what Jackie's doing in the strip. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by fake_soup:
excuse me ingnornace but being that i don't know anyone that happens to be blind i have to ask <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.g ... >Perfectly reasonable, and hey, what are forums for?------------------
<A HREF="http://wscholars.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Weishaupt Scholars</A> -- Fewer obscure inside jokes than the title would seem to suggest![This message has been edited by Michael Martin (edited 12-10-2000).]

BJ · Post by BJ » Sun Dec 10, 2000 8:50 am

Michael, you beat me to it, and said exactly what I was going to...but better. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">The folding system you described is almost identical to one of my blind friends' systems. As far as "have a friend help you out", I was happy to learn that almost anybody is willing to help out a sightless person when asked directly; it helps us figure out the age old question: "Will she be offended if I offer to help?"The answer: "All offers are appreciated."And the irony about this strip is that by the time I drew it, all my sightless friends had relocated. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/frown.gif"> Not because I have B.O.--they were just going to school in town.

BJ · Post by BJ » Sun Dec 10, 2000 8:52 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by fake_soup:
stupid questions <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>There are no stupid questions--but I've been known to give some stupid answers! <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/eek.gif">

Xiombarg · Post by **Xiombarg** » Mon Dec 11, 2000 5:49 am

Just a note about introducing the $1 coin...Up here in Canada, when they released the coin, they also did away with the bill so there was not going to be any "holdouts", or the ability to refuse the coins by the general populace. Unfortunately, there will be the same backlash this time as there was when they released the Susan B, because people have a choice. Also of potentially important note is the fact that a Bill is Legal Tender, amd cannot be refused as payment for anything, while a Coin in definately Not "Legal Tender" and CAN be refused. That's why companies can refuse payment in unrolled pennies, for example. Next step, someone will try paying their income tax in unrolled Sackies (what else are you gonna call 'em?) and have that payment bounced.Just some disjointed commentary on the subject at hand.More directly, I have a few blind folk friends, and what throws them off are the foriegn coins. Particularly the british ones that are the same size, but only slightly thicker than a dime...
Xiombarg,Not just for messageboards any more <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">

BJ · Post by BJ » Mon Dec 11, 2000 8:48 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Xiombarg:
Also of potentially important note is the fact that a Bill is Legal Tender, amd cannot be refused as payment for anything, while a Coin in definately Not "Legal Tender" and CAN be refused. That's why companies can refuse payment in unrolled pennies<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>So much for the adage "It all spends the same." I always thought companies refused coin because it takes longer to count and is durn heavy in those quantities.I had a guy pay for a purchase with 19 gold dollars the other day. It was fun, but when I opened the register, I realised we don't have a compartment for 'em! So I threw a 20 in the till and pocketed all of 'em. I use them to tip waitresses. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">Hey, question, while we're on the subject of coins. I found a Canadian quarter from 1965 that looks, feels and smells like silver. Are those puppies really made of silver, or is it an alloy?

ZOMBIE USER 1159 · Post by **ZOMBIE USER 1159** » Mon Dec 25, 2000 6:05 am

Yes, the older ones were made of silver (don't know what percentage or what year they stopped), as far as I know American coins were also silver for many years. This is a guess (based on something I vaguely heard a while ago), but I think the mints changed from silver during a period when silver was _real_ expensive due to someone (very successfully) manipulating the market price.

BJ · Post by BJ » Tue Dec 26, 2000 10:39 am

Very cool info! Thanks!The hisotry sounds logical enough to me. I know American dimes and quarters from 1964 and prior are mostly silver. The have a different sheen, a different smell and they sound different when they hit a hard surface. Also, no copper in the middle! Keep your eye out for 'em--they're pretty cool!

BJ · Post by BJ » Wed Dec 27, 2000 2:52 am

I'm learning all sorts of stuff here...Okay, my turn. I once heard that it's illegal to deface currency (like stamping "I grew hemp" on George Washington's face on the dollar bill). This is only partially true.It's illegal to deface currency and then use it to pay for something. So if you wanted to drill a hole in a Sacagawea dollar to wear it as a charm, that's cool. But you shouldn't then use it to buy cigarettes.And you shouldn't smoke anyway, RIGHT, SHANNON?!

Pooga · Post by **Pooga** » Wed Dec 27, 2000 12:17 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Xiombarg:
Also of potentially important note is the fact that a Bill is Legal Tender, amd cannot be refused as payment for anything, while a Coin in definately Not "Legal Tender" and CAN be refused. That's why companies can refuse payment in unrolled pennies, for example.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Um, no. This didn't sound right at all, and a quick search came up with this quote from Section 102 of the Coinage Act of 1965 on the <A HREF="http://www.bep.treas.gov/fact13.htm" TARGET=_blank>Bureau of Engraving and Printing website</A>:"All coins and currencies of the United States, regardless of when coined or issued, shall be legal tender for all debts, public and private, public charges, taxes, duties and dues."In other words, coins most definitely are legal tender, even though they do not have the little label that bills do.However, as the explanation on that site points out, private parties are not required by the federal government to accept any form of legal tender. That's why, in addition to rejecting pennies as a form of payment, a convience store (for example) can also refuse a $100 bill. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Next step, someone will try paying their income tax in unrolled Sackies (what else are you gonna call 'em?) and have that payment bounced.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Nope. Possibly the state and lower governments have the right to refuse legal tender for payment of income tax, but if you wanted to pay your taxes in pennies, you could. That's because the only party in this whole arrangement that's definitely legally obligated to accept all forms of U.S. currency as valid payment of a debt is the U.S. federal government.Now possibly things are set up differently in Canada, so what you said may be true up north. But trust me (or at least the BEP) that in the U.S. this is how things work. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif">Pooga------------------
If I had my own web comic, like everybody else, I'd put a link to it <A HREF="http://NoComicForMe" TARGET=_blank>here</A>.