What country has the oldest, still legal tender coins?

As far as I know, I believe the United States has the oldest legal tender coins - as every single coin minted under the auspices of the US National Govt is still legal tender today.

In other words, feel free to use a Chain Cent and a handful of half-cents to pay for a soda.

Is there a country that has coins older than 1793 that are still considered legal tender for all debts public and private?

 

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https://www.cointalk.com/threads/whats-the-oldest-coin-still-accepted.270525/

 

Not every coin minted by the US mint is still legal tender. Trade dollars were demonetized. I would add that the mint did strike coins for other countries and territories that are also no longer legal tender - though you likely did not intend to include those in your above assertion.

 

Actually, all US coins are legal tender per Section 201 of the Coinage Act of 1965. This includes things like half cents, large cents, and trade dollars that didn’t have legal tender status in the past. See the link for the actual language.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-79/pdf/STATUTE-79-Pg254.pdf#page=2

 

Indeed. Very interesting. It does seem to cover the trade dollar.

 

Tell that to the Langbord family and the US courts. Apparently the 1933 Doube Eagle is not legal tender, except for 1 example.

 

In the past, anything not struck in silver or gold was considered a token coinage, and not officially legal tender. Their acceptance as payment could be denied because they were not specie.

 

I’d say they’re still legal tender per the language of the law, but since the government owns them (at least according to the government), they’re not legal for people to own or use as legal tender (even though they are legal tender).

 

Switzerland has been using the same design on most of their coins for approx 140 years. So the 2019 coins looks like one from the 1880s. I don't think this answers your question, but surely is a really useless piece of information.

 

Right. Switzerland is "special" in that, while some coin designs have been in use for many decades, this does not make the older pieces legal tender. It works with most 10 and 20 rp/ct coins but not for any of the other denominations. And like almost everybody else in the world, the Swiss are used to older pieces being taken out of circulation at some point.

In some countries such old coins and notes lose their monetary value after some redemption period. Elsewhere you may not be able to spend them any more but can still redeem them. Different countries use different "models" for that. And as long as this is simply done in order to replace an old type with a new one, not due to political or economic instability, fine with me.

Christian

 

I believe that all of the silver pennies issues in The Shire since T.A. 1601 are still legal tender!

 

I spent my trade dollars on black Friday deals!

 

All denominations of US stamps can be used for postage.

 

With some of the stories, most people, do not know enough history about currency in general and are willing to call the authorities on what they think is counterfeit. Recent example, the two dollar bill, but then they don't know what a silver certificate is either.

 

And some very fine examples of old currency have been destroyed by idiot store clerks in the process.

 

You should see the looks I get when I spend clad halves some places.

 

Is this a quarter?
-no, try again.

Is this a dollar?
-yea. Sure. It’s a dollar.

I actually once spent two gold sac dollars at Taco Bell for a $1.18 burrito or something. Confused the cashier so much I got $1 back in change. Profit!

 

I was stationed in Germany and bought rolls of US coins from the banks on base. Many contained Swiss 10 Rappen coins in the nickel rolls. The designs didn't change and many dated before 1900. I was there from 1974 to 1977. I was buying the rolls to get buffalo nickels which were also circulating.

 

Thank heavens for slabs eh.

Now Americans know what their coins are because its printed on the slab

 

Bingo.

Those over about 40 usually recognize them, those under roughly 40 typically do not, save for the occasional young numismatist.