Super secret Canadian spy technology

[sinij]

Canadian Spy Nanotechnology

[Miasma]

We are deadly serious about the coinage arms race.  Witness our million dollar 220lb gold coin.

A 100kg gold coin is seen next to gold bars and smaller gold coins in an undated publicity photo from the Royal Canadian Mint. The Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a welcome addition to any piggy bank on Thursday -- a monster gold coin with a face value of C$1 million that it says is the world's biggest, purest and highest denomination coin. REUTERS/Handout

[Furiously]

I saw this on slashdot a couple days ago, and I kind of disagree with the sentiments there.

If I was on a visit doing something "classified", and found something strange in my car, then later found one in my pocket that I didn't recall putting there, I can see how someone might think this is odd, I better report it.

Have you ever gotten a rental car and found money in it... I never have.

[Lantyssa]

Neat.  I need to get ahold of a few of those coins.  The a few of the poppies would be nice, too.

[sinij]

Paranoia

Just because you are paranoid, it doesn't mean nobody is after you, right?

[Righ]

Regitko predicted the quarter will become especially popular among collectors because of its infamy as the culprit behind the spy warning, despite the quarter's wide availability. "Everybody has some in their drawer at home," he said.

A rather spectacularly successful result for a spy coin. Irrespective of the true nature of this coin, it appears that the spy coin just got ushered into existence by thousands of collectors. We'd be fools not to develop one before the pinkos^H^H^H^H^H^Haxis of evil do.

[Polysorbate80]

a monster gold coin with a face value of C$1 million that it says is the world's biggest, purest and highest denomination coin.

That's like, US$0.39, right?  I'll mail ya a buck, ship me down a couple of them things.

[sinij]

a monster gold coin with a face value of C$1 million that it says is the world's biggest, purest and highest denomination coin.

That's like, US$0.39, right?  I'll mail ya a buck, ship me down a couple of them things.

90s called and reminded that your elected Bush and your US$ now worth half a penny in CD$.

[Murgos]

So, what Canadian genius came up with the idea to mint a $1,000,000 CN coin that has a value in metal of close to $2,000,000?

I understand that they aren't going to give you one unless you cough up the full value of the metal but doesn't that make it a $2,000,000 CN coin?  Has all that head flapping finally addled the Canadian brain to the point that they can't tell 1 million from 2 million?

[Miasma]

It's the mint, what do they care.  Fuckers can just print more money to make up the gap.

Seriously though I think the face value on gold coins are just for show.  I bought the one ounce gold coin and it's face value is only $50 even though it's worth over ten times that.  Maybe there is some sort of financial apocalypse that occurs if the face value of bullion is ever worth more than the underlying metal.  I just checked and the US mint's gold coins also have a face value of $50, they cost almost $700.

[eldaec]

Maybe there is some sort of financial apocalypse that occurs if the face value of bullion is ever worth more than the underlying metal. 

No.

Think about that for a moment.

Financial apocalypse occurs the other way around. When underlying metal is worth more than the face value on general currency.

[Trippy]

Maybe there is some sort of financial apocalypse that occurs if the face value of bullion is ever worth more than the underlying metal. 

No.

Think about that for a moment.

Financial apocalypse occurs the other way around. When underlying metal is worth more than the face value on general currency.

Which is happening now, albeit on a relatively small scale. The US penny and nickel are worth more melted down than they are as currency. The supply of copper is not keeping up with demand hence the value inversion.

[NowhereMan]

In fact the financial apocalypse occurs when high value notes have a lower face value than the materials they're made of. When it's cheaper to wipe your arse with a 20 than it is to use toilet paper you know you're trouble.

[schild]

You know, banning the melting of those coins in response to them not being worth the metal their made of is just them sticking their head in the sand. When the value of a penny and such drops that much, we have MUCH BIGGER PROBLEMS. I bet our government doesn't really even know or understand the problem and that makes me weep a bit.

[Bunk]

Maybe there is some sort of financial apocalypse that occurs if the face value of bullion is ever worth more than the underlying metal. 

No.

Think about that for a moment.

Financial apocalypse occurs the other way around. When underlying metal is worth more than the face value on general currency.

Which is happening now, albeit on a relatively small scale. The US penny and nickel are worth more melted down than they are as currency. The supply of copper is not keeping up with demand hence the value inversion.

I'm not sure on the current prices, but for quite a while US dimes that were old enough to still have silver in them (pre 70 something if I remember right) were worth about $1 each based on the silver content.

Oh, and the Canadian dollar jokes are getting a little old.

[sinij]

Maybe there is some sort of financial apocalypse that occurs if the face value of bullion is ever worth more than the underlying metal.

No.

Think about that for a moment.

Financial apocalypse occurs the other way around. When underlying metal is worth more than the face value on general currency.

Think about it. Gold prices drop, now $500 gold coin that had $500 gold in it has only $300 worth of gold in it. Considering that its legal tender you go and purchase something using it. Who gets to cough up difference between coin value and denomination? That right, mint.

[tazelbain]

That right, mint.

I'll just assume you know how modern money works and making a joke.

[Lantyssa]

I'm not sure on the current prices, but for quite a while US dimes that were old enough to still have silver in them (pre 70 something if I remember right) were worth about $1 each based on the silver content.

1964 and prior for all 'silver' coins.  Dimes, Quarters, Half-Dollars and Dollars.  Some of the earlier nickles were silver or had it mixed in I believe.

Since 1983 Pennies are only copper clad.  They have a zinc interior.  And of course the 1943 pennies were steel as copper was needed for the war.  (If you find a true 1943 copper penny, it's worth a bundle.)

[squirrel]

a monster gold coin with a face value of C$1 million that it says is the world's biggest, purest and highest denomination coin.

That's like, US$0.39, right?  I'll mail ya a buck, ship me down a couple of them things.

How's living in the past working out for you anyway? Lewinski testify yet?

[Polysorbate80]

How's living in the past working out for you anyway? Lewinski testify yet?

I'm well aware that the canadian buck is worth about 90 cents on the US dollar.

As far as I'm concerned, though, you might as well all be using Monopoly money 

Go hug your pet beavers or something.

[squirrel]

Well if it's coloured money that freaks you out rest assured the rest of globe is equally appalled by the newspaper clippings you call bills :P

[Special J]

Ahh. What's worse than a tired joke? One that's no longer relevant.

Whatever, make any joke you want about our money or what it's worth.  Our $5 bills have hockey players on them. That rules.

[NiX]

Ahh. What's worse than a tired joke? One that's no longer relevant.

Get used to it cause it sure does happen a lot around here. The aboot thing, oh man, what a riot that was during our Guild Wars days. Bunch of fucking comedians...

[Strazos]

What is that on your foot, ABOOT?

ho ho ho....I'm here all night, folks.

[Stormwaltz]

90s called and reminded that your elected Bush and your US$ now worth half a penny in CD$.

$1 CDN is up to 90 cents American, lately. That's up from hovering around 84 cents for the last year or so.

I have to do a lot of conversions...

I'm amused that our well-trained and technically savvy intelligence community believed that these coins "looked like nanotechnology." Since, you know, it doesn't really exist yet. And if it did, it would by definition be smaller than the human eye can discern.

[Azazel]

And possibly nanotechnology wouldn't be designed so that it stands out like a pair of dog's bollocks...