Four More Uses for Gold Dollar Coins

I've asked you all if you use or plan on using gold dollar coins and followed that up with a post on some various uses for them. Well, since that time, I ordered $500 more in gold dollar coins to help out my annual credit card rewards balances, but I also found a few more uses for the coins, and thought I'd share those with you. Here goes:

• We used them as "blessing money" throughout the holidays. We gave them in Salvation Army kettles as well as to a few friends we wanted to bless. Kids REALLY love them -- you should see their eyes light up when they get a free gold dollar! ;-)

• Stocking stuffers! Our kids love them too!

• Chores bonus! One of my son's chores is to help me clear snow off our driveway and sidewalks. But he went above-and-beyond the call of duty in late December (where we got pounded with snow the second half of the month) and I gave him a few coins as an extra thank you. You would have thought he had won the lottery!

• I've decided to keep about $500 in coins in my home safe. After our discussion on keeping cash at home, I thought about keeping a bit extra around, but I want to be sure it's safe from potential fires and floods. My safe is fire-resistant, but with coins, I don't need to worry about fire or water as they'll make it through anything.

How about you? Anyone out there bought/used the coins lately? If so, do you have any creative ideas for using them?

Comments

[Craig]

There great for vending machines. That's all about I use them for.

[The Passive Dad]

I purchased $250 from the mint as well and plan on using them to get my kids excited about coin collecting and establishing a savings program when they open a new savings account. I hope to open a savings account at a local bank when my daughter turns 5 next month.

[coin network]

I just ordered $500. I am thinking about giving them away to promote my coin collecting social network.

[Strick]

I think large coins are cool, but have little use beyond that given how little value they have compared to their size and weight. If they circulated a $10 or $20 coin that I knew I could easily use anywhere, I'd order a box for home and would carry them for spending money as well.

[Anon]

I purchased $2500 worth. The USPS refused to take them as payment for a money order.

[thomas]

good suggestions on how to spend the coins.

[Christy Odom]

I keep them in my car for toll roads.

[thad]

Is it still free shipping?

[FMF]

Thad --

Yep. I just ordered another $500 worth a couple days ago.

[squeezed]

Ummmm, what happens when Amex decides that buying currency is either (s) a cash advance, or (b) not subject to rewards?

[FMF]

Squeezed --

Ummmm, you stop doing it? Until then, let the good times roll!

[NewHorizon]

It's not uncommon, of course, for someone to ask a cashier to make change.

So how about doing the reverse? Ask the cashier to, say, give you a 5 dollar bill or (or 10, or 20) in exchange for the corresponding number of coins. Later, deposit the cash to your bank account via ATM.

[r]

Coinstar machines? My local one lets me put in coins and get gift certificates to Amazon (or others) for free. Anyone know if these machines take the $1 coins?

[Tom K]

Dollar coins are great for tips!