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PaperclipPerfector  2d ago (text post)   1579 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for February 13, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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A bill passes unanimously through US congress, regarding an issuing of coins commemorating the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the US. While it authorizes the 2.50 USD coin only in commemorative quantities, it also directs a study to be conducted regarding it being issued in circulating quantities.

If the latter goes through, the most valuable circulating USD coin would be worth slightly ore than the most valuable circulating EUR coin (2 EUR=2.37 USD).

I still like my idea for a five-dollar coin better, but this would be an improvement on that status quo if it also retires nickles.

Ban all fractional prices. Everything must be rounded to the nearest dollar. Coins are now one, five, ten, and 25 dollars. The paper bills are now $100, $500, and $1000. I know the government does not like making large denomination bills because of drug dealers, but we really need some back or paper money is just going to be useless pretty soon. Maybe that’s what they want.

That is 100% what they want. In the US there's still that old anarchistic streak alive, but in Europe push for digital money (controlled by the governmental Central Bank, of course) is in full swing. Not sure it'll be successful - when I was in Berlin some years ago, I was astonished how many places didn't accept anything but cash - but they will definitely try to push cash as much to the sidelines as possible.

EU has regulation confirming the availability of cash as a legal tender in the legislative pipeline, though.

The new push for digital euro is about hopefully eventually replacing Visa/Mastercard as digital payment structure (for obvious sovereignty reasons, especially considering the recent events in US/EU relations).

Getting from under the US financial boot is one of the reasons, but I suspect the control that CB would enjoy over any digital currency is another (actually very similar - EU doesn't like US controlling their finances, but they very much would like the same power for themselves).

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