Way back when I was in High School, I had a "Government/ history" teacher who also collected coins. He noted an interesting bit of data about the relationship between a government's smallest coin and revolution. He could find no government that lasted for more than 50 years after debasing (cutting with cheaper metals) their smallest coin. He stated that most didn't make it past 25 years. The United States debased the penny in 1982. You do the math! - Granny :stoned: