Indygirl2, it's a deal. I will give you a favorable exchange rate if you pay the shipping ;-)

And NCgrrl, we would love it if Coinstar came to Europe!

As it is, whenever I go back to the U.S. for a visit, I take over a big ziploc bag full of euro coins for friends and family.

<<in Rome, the subway REQUIRED exact change in the ticket automats, and the cost? .76 Euro>>

You just made me remember that a similarly stupid situation exists on the toll road route (I-88) we just drove from Rockford to get back to Chicago (Midway). Twice we encountered a toll booth that offered only two choices: 80 cents in exact change coins, or I-pass - - and then the even more bizarre message posted - - No change? Call 1-630-xxx-xxxx (I didn't actually get the number!) <u>within four days</u>!

Right. How many people do that? We drove on through. Will we be hearing from Avis? What will the ultimate collection costs end up - - to recoup this 80 cent toll?

&gt;I never understood the concept behind the 2-Eurocent coin.&lt;

1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 is a logarithmic progression. It provides the least number of coins to make a given sum.

((I))

&lt;&lt;It provides the least number of coins to make a given sum.&gt;&gt;

Hmmm... here's an adaptation for <i>Travel</i> Talk from a recent &quot;Puzzler&quot; - - from our friends at <i>Car</i> Talk...

In Molvania, they have only 6 cent, 9 cent and 20 cent coins - - what is the most expensive price that something can have, and be impossible to purchase with exact change?