During this trip I have picked up a few currency oddities as I am always on the lookout for new and interesting pieces of money. 

One of my goals was to find a US $2 bill.  Now the US is different from Canada in the way that the $2 denomination of currency is not used much.  However the government still produces them for public circulation.  In Canada $2 has always been a widely circulated denomination having been switched from bill to coin form in 1996.  I would encourage any Americans to come to Canada and experience the convenince of $2 coins.  It not only reduces the weight of your pocket change, one coin is lighter than four, but it helps to make handling smaller transactions easier, such as paying $4.25 for something.  I find $1 bills to be awkward and inconvenient, especially when you have about 8 - 12 of them in your wallet and you are trying to pay for food at the drive thru.

A second goal of mine was to find a US half dollar (or 50c) coin.  These have always been pretty scarce as well, however the US mint still produces them in the millions every year.  The coins are now the largest piece of circulating currency and have been in continuous production, unlike the silver dollars.  The half dollar in the US is currently graced with a rather attractive portrait of JFK.  I'm surprised they're not more popular as he is by far the most attractive person on any piece of US currency.  I am also surprised at the number of quarter dollars you get in your spare change here.  So heavy...

I have also obtained several of the new Sacagawea "golden" dollar coins that debuted in 2000.  The US mint has been trying to force the American people to give up dollar bills for quite some time.  The first attempt was in the 1970s with the Susan B. Anthony dollar.  The coins are now "golden" in color and look a lot like loonies.  I think the US mint is trying to copy the Canadian one.  The US also has state quarters now which are a lot like the Canada 125 quarters from 1992.  The US mint is about to embark on yet a THIRD attempt to popularize this coin.  They are started a presidential dollar coin series that will feature each dead president, 4 per year.  These will also be "golden" in color.  I am pretty sure that Canada is not going to start a prime minister or monarch series, however I don't know if we're necessairly obliged to portray the reigning monarch on our coins as we have been gradually reducing the number of bills that she is on.  The queen used to be on the 1, 2, 20, and 1000 dollar bills but now the 1, 2, and 1000 have been discontinued, so she is only on the 20.