Just in case you were wondering, Australia has a small little gold coin in its currency circulation with a number 2 written on it.  FYI, that sweet little coin is NOT worth 2 cents and it’s not worth 20 cents either.  I learned this lesson the hard way by nearly ‘throwing away’ these coins into the nearest street musician’s top hat.  Oh no, no.   That little coin is worth 2 DOLLARS.  This thing is literally the size of a nickel.  Who does that?  Granted it is gold so that should have tipped me off.

On our third day in OZ we were buying bus tickets and the total price was around $9 (have I mentioned Australia is EXPENSIVE??) I was still jet lagged and discombobulated. As I opened my outstretched palm filled various coins under the teller window, I said to the cashier “I don’t think I have enough but I can’t figure out all this money.”  She took the coins from me and starting counting out “2. . 4 . .6. . 8 and 9.  See all of these,” she held up the little gold coin “these are all worth two dollars.” I had about $50 worth of these things in my pocket, thinking I was carrying around about a half a dollar.  “Well, that’s just crazy.” I responded.  “They are so tiny.  How are we supposed to know that?!”  “Yeah,” she agreed knowingly.  “All the Americans say that. But they are the best coin. ”  And they really were!  So convenient, so accessible, so valuable!

So there you have it folks.  Next time you are in Australia, don’t be deceived by the cute little coin.  Don’t be tempted to throw that coin into any old tip jar.  That coin is worth something and it ain’t just a couple of cents.