Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Any metal is a penny

Any piece of metal weighing at least 2 grams is accepted as a penny
  (+13, -4)(+13, -4)
(+13, -4)
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against]

When I was young, we had a carnival at my day camp and the "currency" used to purchase games at booths was simply this: any piece of nature. You could trade an acorn or a stick for a turn throwing beanbags. Some kids were lazy and just picked blades of grass.

Since there's controversy about whether to "retire" the penny in the United States, why don't we do this? From now on, any piece of metal weighing 2 grams or more will be accepted as a penny. Many people will opt to use the "official" pennies, but any miscellaneous nut, bolt, washer, or other piece of metal litter you find in the street can also be traded to a store as currency, and think of this -- you'll be helping to keep cities clean at the same time.

Stores will not keep "pennies" in the cash register, but rather, in a big barrel. Stores can trade them to metal recyclers for reimbursement.

The penny barrel may ultimately include some objects worth more than a penny, but from this the store can only profit.

phundug, Feb 23 2007

http://www.metalprices.com/ If I read this right, a pound of lead sells for less than $1 right now. [jutta, Feb 23 2007]

[link]






       "Here you go, that's two tens and one defunct Zanussi. Keep the change."
MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 23 2007
  

       I'd like to pay my taxes please. I have a few dumptrucks full of scrap metal outside.
Galbinus_Caeli, Feb 23 2007
  

       //If I read this right, a pound of lead sells for less than $1 right now.// If I read that chart right, then lead was officially trading at a little less than $.89USD per pound currently, or just less than two-tenths of a cent per gram. So to get the value of a penny in lead, you would have to produce +/-5 grams of material. So, if you change the premise of the idea from 2 grams per penny to 5 grams of metal per penny (or, better yet, allow it to "float" at some officially sanctioned exchange rate) then you have an equitable idea for all parties. At least those who have ready access to an ample quantity of lead.
jurist, Feb 24 2007
  

       Well I like it + but I would rather use acorns.
xandram, Feb 24 2007
  

       Every home could have some kind of squashing machine that turned things like cans, tins and jar lids into units of currency.   

       The banks would collect all these pieces of currency and ship them off en mass to the recycling plant.   

       Great idea - in terms of finding a viable way of encouraging people to recycle.
zen_tom, Feb 24 2007
  

       I think that seashells should be worth a 50 cent piece, and chunks of metal should be worth a nickel, but I'm no gypsy (I'd just sell the stuff). [+]
quantum_flux, Feb 24 2007
  

       A smashed aluminum can will soon be a more recognized standard than a penny.
lurch, Feb 24 2007
  
      
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