coin knowledge by some laypeople is surprisingly bad

I was watching a game show last night called the Million Dollar Money Drop; where they give people a million dollars at the start of the show and they keep it by answering questions.

One of the categories for questions came up "Coins".

The question was "Whose portrait is on the U.S. Dime?"

The possible answers were 1. Kennedy 2. Jefferson 3. Lincoln 4. Roosevelt

The woman said she was absolutely SURE it was Jefferson and the guy didnt seem to know.

Therefore, these two people (a blonde in her 30's and a guy in the Military) put a million dollar bet on 2. Jefferson. (They could have spread the money around on up to 3 choices -- but if they were sure of their answer, could place the bet all on 1 answer.)

Are most people really that oblivious when it comes to circulating US coins? Perhaps most people never really look at them but instead identify them purely on size. You should have seen the look on their faces when a million dollars in cash they were holding fell into the pit.

I was shocked at their lack of knowledge.

 

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Why should you be shocked at their lack of knowledge? Take a look at the spelling errors on these and many other forums. Not everyone collects coins, but we all speak the English language. Right?

Chris

 

I am not surprised. As we are using more electronic forms of money, please seem to know less and less about paper money and coins. TC

 

i guess the upshot of this is most of the people out there are not very bright

it's kind of sad

 

Not surprised at all. It isn't something that many people think about, other than us of course.

 

My three year old daughter knows who is on the cent, nickel, dime, quarter, and half. I feel it is important to know our country's founding fathers, and presidents. More emphasis is placed on being able to used PCs and cell phones these days. History is bound to repeat itself, mark my words.

 

Who is Roosevelt? - lol!

Even more shocking is that a couple last night didn't know that there's no tomato on a Big Mac. Come on, people - two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickle, onion on a sesame seed bun!

To their credit, they only lost $200,000 on the Tomato question.

 

:bangg:Now I feel horrible I was just telling my son how funny it was that these people got it wrong. I asked him the question and he said Jefferson:bangg:
They need to make a game for Xbox that teaches this stuff

 

Are most people really that oblivious when it comes to circulating US coins?

Unfortunately, lack of knowledge is far more reaching than numismatics. Have you ever witnessed Jay Leno segments, man on the street interviews, or his game show, where he will ask people who the Vice President is, or even show a picture of Biden or Cheney and the person has no clue. But there is hope! Nearly ALL of them CAN and DO properly identify Britney Spears, Brad Pitt, or Angelina Jolie!
Steve

 

How about it? This morning I passed a girl(probably early 20's) as i was leaving the post office and overheard her tell the clerk that she had some questions because she "never mailed anything before" Undoubtedly everything until that point had been email and Facebook

 

Funny story my Dad told me: When he was a kid he used to get teased by his uncle. He'd hold out a nickel and a dime and told him he could take one of them and keep it. He'd take the nickel which would make his uncle laugh because he thought he was just taking the bigger of the two thinking that it must be worth more. He said he kept this up for a long time until his uncle heard that dad did that only because he knew as soon as he took the dime his uncle would stop offering it.

 

So what's wrong with that? The only thing I mail out are Christmas cards. Not everyone has mailed a package before - that is probably what she was referring to. And who pays bills by mail anymore??

 

Sobering to me; when I am in my old age and must depend on someone making decisions for me (IF I live that long), I fear what I can look forward to...


Lucy
(Maybe McD's needs to recirculate the old song..."two all beef patties,...")

 

Who said anything was wrong with it? I was just responding to Topcat's comment that old school transactions are being taken over by electronic forms. This is just more evidence of it.

 

Me! Handwritten checks, stamped with an old mechanical Paymaster stamper, hand-addressed. I COULD do them online, but there's something pleasurable to me to go through the whole, sorting, writing, stamping with cool stamps, and mailing... I like the way they look.
Lucy

 

Wrong! It should be "pickles" - plural

 

I've never touched a Big Mac in my life, nor do I have any interest at all in doing so... how the hell would I know what's on it?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c--ppVrFSs&NR=1

Correct. :burger-flip::burger: TC

 

Nice Find, TC!
Steve

 

Same here, Lucy. I think it adds a bit of class and intelligence doing things more hands-on.
Guy