They’re not worth anything, never were but even less through the years with inflation.
If a store wants to sell something for 99 cent, they can either just take 1€ or 95 cent.
Maybe even 5 cent pieces? But that would be a bit radical.
I am a bit annoyed that easy ideas like this are never discussed in politics, or wherever. It would make our lives just a little bit easier, and having them achieves NOTHING.
Just looked it up: Finland, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Ireland.
what happens if you pay 5 Cents with 5x1 cent from other countries in those countries?
I don’t know but I guess they still would have to accept them since they are still official currency.
Finland: Price totals are rounded to 5 cents at the checkout but the smaller money is valid and you can generally use them, unless a shop specifically informs that they don’t accept them.
I used to live in Finland for two years. The shop close by to my home wouldn’t accept 1 or 2 cents so I just put them in a drawer and never worried about it again. Don’t know if they are obliged to accept them.
I’m from Italy, most machines that take cash straight up don’t accept 1 and 2 cent coins and 500€ notes anymore, they’ll just spit them out. I don’t think I’ve ever paid a cashier with those, so I don’t know what the policy is, but I think they are allowed to refuse them. It’s still legal tender so banks will take them; I have a big jar at home where I collect all the small cents, I plan to take it to a bank once it’s full and see what I can buy with it (stonks). I can tell you that if you make an electronic payment you will pay the exact price, but if you’re paying in cash it will be rounded to the nearest .05.
Machines here in Austria also often don’t take 1/2ct and €500.
I haven’t seen them a lot lately in Austria…
Austria still totally uses 1/2ct coins. If you are one of the weirdos who still pays in cash, that is.
Why would be one a weirdo if they pay in cash?
Just a joke since hardly anyone in Austria actually pays in cash. It’s mostly something old people, criminals and politicians do.
In Germany, cash is still king 😭 I hate it. Problem that also only many stores take cash. In my district in Hamburg there is even a bike store where you can only pay cash. Recently I had to visit three restaurants until I found one where I could pay by card. The most annoying thing is that you can’t get cash anywhere. My bank (Commerzbank) or the association closes more and more branches. Thus, the ATMs are also missing. With foreign banks to withdraw money is really expensive. I get my money currently from the supermarket. But I have to buy for at least 10 euros to withdraw money. Germany is so annoying. When I was last on vacation in Scotland, I was able to pay even the toilet visit with card. That was so pleasant and easy. Currently, there are also more and more strange groups in our country (from the right-wing fringe, Querdenker) who see a conspiracy in a possible abolition of cash. “the so-called elites want to take us the cash to be able to control us better”.
This would annoy me so much. In Austria you can even pay by card on a farmers market.
Yes, then you’d better not come to Germany. I just don’t understand how backward we are in many things. Especially compared to many of our neighbors. We have a lot in common with Austria. But when it comes to things like that, we’re worlds apart.
I’ve been there a lot, so I know the situation. There are quite a few things that are odd and inconvenient over there. But worst of all is the Autobahn. Not having a speed limit makes it a terrible place to drive. And generally their addiction to cars and their aversion to working, affordable public transport.