Some good people in Michigan have said the hell with Federal Reserve notes and have begun using alternatives, including—gasp!—gold and silver coins. At the end of the newscast, the reporter says that yes, gold and silver coins may actually be used for buying things. Then viewers are invited to answer the question: “Would you consider using precious metals as currency?” How quickly Americans have forgotten that until not long ago, gold and silver coins—along with Treasury notes backed by gold and silver—were the only currencies considered lawful!
New types of money are popping up across Mid-Michigan and supporters say, it’s not counterfeit, but rather a competing currency.
Right now, you can buy a meal or visit a chiropractor without using actual U.S. legal tender.
They sound like real money and look like real money. But you can’t take them to the bank because they’re not made at a government mint. They’re made at private mints.
“I sell three or four every single day and then I get one or two back a week,” said Dave Gillie, owner of Gillies Coney Island Restaurant in Genesee Township.
Gillie also accepts silver, gold, copper and other precious metals to pay for food.
He says, if he wanted to, he could accept marbles.
“Do people have to accept dollars or money? No, they don’t,” Gillie said. “They can accept anything they want or they can refuse to accept anything.”
He’s absolutely right.
Read more at ConnectMichigan.com.
the coin pictured is either a) a forgery, or B) 2 different coins. There was a 1906 Walking Liberty half dollar, but it had a different reverse and did not contain a full ounce of silver. The picture on the right represents a coin thats 1st mintage was in 1986… Otherwise a great post!
“Hometown Money” explains how to start a local currency system http://paulglover.org/hours