Spent $45 in halves yesterday: The "Half Spending Promotion Saga" continues...

Okay, yesterday, I bought two new pairs of pants at the local Walmart, and spent $20 in halves, and a $2 bill (No, I didn't wear out the pockets in my old pairs of pants, carrying all of those halves around. ) I told the cashier "I'm using halves" and she said "Wow, I've never seen these before" (and she looked like an older woman, so I found it hard to believe that she had never seen halves before) so I asked her "You've never seen halves?" and she said, "Oh, no. I've seen halves. I've just never seen them wrapped like this before" (the halves were in those private store bought wrappers) so she tore the roll down the side (I wonder if she was looking for silver) and counted them and said "There is only $9.50 here in this one roll" and I said "Whoa! I thought I got it right. I counted them twice before rewrapping them" and then she looked at the roll wrapper and said "Oh wait, there was one still stuck in the roll" Then she put some of the halves in the half slot, which also had a few spare coin rolls in it, so she had to put some of the halves in with the quarters. Then I asked the BIG question: "Would you please try to put some of these halves into circulation?" I'm trying to promote the use of halves and $2 bills" and she said "I'm going to try to" and I said, "You will probably get mixed reactions. Some people like them. Some people hate them" and she said "Yep, I know" And I said, "Well, thanks for your help" and then I left. But seeing those spare rolls of coins and other junk in the slot intended for halves just bummed me out a little bit.

The second place was a pizza place, where I spent another $20 in halves, and I told the cashier "I am using halves, because I am trying to promote the use of halves and $2 bills" and the cashier said "Okay, let me get your order" Then I asked her the BIG question: Will you try to put some of these out into circulation?" and she said "We probably will" and I said "Thanks" took my order and left.

The third place I spent $5 in halves at, was a fast food place where I bought two chocolate shakes, and I did not even bother asking them about putting the halves into circulation, because, all they ever tell me at that place is "No, we usually ship them all back to the bank unless somebody buys them off us.

Now, before all of you "anti-half" people go jumping on me, let me be the first to say that I KNOW that these cashiers "could" have more than likely been telling me that they would put the halves I gave them into circulation, just to get me to "shut my yap" and leave, and get me out of their hair. I AM well aware of that. So, if there are any jackasses that want to make smart aleck remarks about this post or topic in general, I figure I will have saved you the trouble by posting this paragraph in this message.

But lastly, I will say. At least "I" am trying to do something about the problem of halves and $2 bills not circulating.

 

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You know they were probably just telling you that they would put the halves you gave them into circulation, just to..... OOOPS!

Jokes aside, I applaud your efforts to get these forgotten forms of currency circulating again..... Especially since the Half Dollar is my favorite denomination! I do the same thing from time to time and have received some great reactions and some terrible reactions including one lady at a fast food place that actually had to call out the manager (angering the line behind me) just to verify that Half Dollars are real money and that they could accept them. I've even had that reaction with Dollar coins!!! Oh-well, keep up the great work and thank you for the thread!

 

could you please put pre 1964 type coins into circulation? ))

 

Would you at least put some 1965-1970 halves into circulation? How about half-dimes, 2 cent pieces, half-pennies, 3 cent pieces, and 20 cent pieces. I think you should put them into circulation too.

 

Of course I could if I had them ))
but 1st one should put them into circulation ... as soon as I get them I'll decide ))

 

Good work Drago. I wish there was a way to test your experiment. Maybe you can bring a friend to Walmart and have him go to that same cashier after you and see if he gets any halves in change. BTW: pizza, milkshakes...you are going to need larger pants if you keep eating that way. J/K TC

 

While I admire your tenacity, I still don't see what the "problem" is with halves and $2 bills not circulating. Most people (and we are not "most people") don't like them, and those that do accept them (rather than tell the cashier they want something else) will more than likely throw them in a drawer or jar, effectively ending the circulation for those particular pieces. That's assuming they don't go into the safe at the end of the day, and right back to the bank. You're crusading against a problem that doesn't really exist.

 

Syracuse University Concessions uses halves the last few years i"ve worked there

it's the only coin needed in the cash drawer because everything is in whole dollars or ends in fifty cents

i heard from someone that plastic was added this year to pay .... so i guess the halves wont be going out as fast now

 

I think you're being a tad presumptuous. Some of us may be onagers.

Chris

 

There is not a problem, but their is a better way to do things, halves were meant to Be used, not to be replaced by 2 quarters

 

my coin dealer from time to time gives me back change in ike dollars and halves,

 

I wish mine did, I want Ike's for face

 

And as a collector, there's nothing that makes me more angry than finding a jar full of coins that someone took out of circulation fifty or sixty years ago.

 

My three year old paid for a kit kat bar in a Walmart yesterday with a $1 Sac and the cashier then looked at me and said 'it's 67 cents she doesn't have enough, I need more money.' To which I simply replied please take a look at the coin, after which he seemed amazed that it was actually a $1 coin. He also remarked how he never sees these being used at all.

 

How old do you have to be to be an onager?

 

They come in all ages.

 

Depends if you're Roman or Syrian.

 

I completely agree with this statement. If you enjoy spending them...then go for it. But I don't think your efforts are going to do anything other than get these coins/notes put back in back vaults or into someone's jar. The vast majority of people simply don't want them.

 

As Homer Simpson would say: "D'oh!" No, I know you're just joking around, LoL.

You're quite welcome, and thank you for your support. Next time I have money to by some more odd money, I'm going to try $2 bills. Who knows? If not nationwide, maybe in my area I will see these things circulating by the small number.

 

Thanks Top Cat.

That would be a good way to try it, but I really don't have many friendsm sadly.

No, no. I had two hambugers from the pizza place, and one of the shakes I bought for "one of those few friends" I have. No offense taken, though.