Friday Five Coin Toss

Well, Gals and Pals, this weekend we'll be rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and that has me thinking about coinage.

1) When was the last time you flipped a coin or even saw one flipped in person?
Oh boy, it's hard to recall how long ago, exactly, it was. However, if I remember correctly it was at a restaurant when I couldn't decide between two choices. Often that is the best way for me to decide... Probably my favorite coin flip of all time (at least to this point in my life) was in "No Country for Old Men" which I referenced in an entry a little while back.

2) Do you have any foreign coins in your house? If so, where are they from?
I know I have some German coins from when I got to travel there in college. Where are they? Who knows, but my bet would be the fanny pack I took on that trip. I don't know for certain, but I'm guessing Dawn has some from China after doing mission work there for 2 years.

3) A penny saved is a penny earned, they say. But let's get serious. Is there a special place in heaven for pennies, or do you think they'll find a special place in, well, the other place?
Well, it's hard to say. On the one hand, they say you can't take it with you. On the other hand there is the old joke about a million dollars to us being worth a penny to God (along with a thousand years being a second to God) and the gentleman asking God for a million dollars, to which God responds, "In a second."

4) How much did you get from the tooth fairy when you were a child? and if you have children of your own, do they get coins, or paper money? (I hear there may be some inflation.)
If I remember correctly I got a quarter growing up. When I lived in CA some family friends of ours gave 50 cents. I was over visiting one night and their son had lost a tooth and was all excited to show me. That night I stayed up late with his parents splitting about a bottle and a half of wine with his mother. Before we knew it the clock was pushing 2 a.m. and Mom hadn't left the tooth fairy money. It just so happened I had gotten a 50 cent piece for change at restaurant earlier in the day, so I offered her that. Bright and early the next morning their son excited woke me up (much to the chagrin of an achy head) to show me this super cool gift from the tooth fairy. It was tough to feign excitement... still, it's a good memory.

5) Did anyone in your household collect the state quarters? And did anyone in your household manage to sustain the interest required to stick with it?
Initially I did not, I wished I had. Then, I married someone who had been collecting them with her grandmother. My wife, Dawn, has largely lost interest, but I can hardly wait for Hawaii (the only one we have left). I think it's super cool! I'm guessing Andrew will love it one day as well... at least he better :-)