Steven D. Levitt’s Freakonomics blog got an interesting submission from Patrick DeJarnette regarding coins.

DeJarnette was curious how efficient our current system of coinage is in handling amounts with the least coins involved. His results are surprising.

The most efficient system was a tie between 1-cent-piece, 3-cent piece, 11-cent piece, 37-cent piece and (1,3,11,38) at 4.10 coins per transaction.

A more palatable combination that’s still more efficient than our current system is (1,4,15,40) with 4.14 coins per transaction.

I don’t expect our coins to change anytime soon, but it’s interesting to see more efficient combinations.

1. What is polished for proof production, the dies or the planchets?

2. What is the tribute penny of the Bible?

3. A paddlewheel steamboat appears on the American Arts Gold Medallion depicting what person?

4. What was the last silver quarter dollar not depicting an eagle?

5. What designer of a $20 gold piece also designed the medal for the 1892 Columbian Expo?

Answers

1. Whose initials appear on some 1909 Lincoln cents?

2. What country issues Maundy money?

3. Whose portrait appears on modern $20 Federal Reserve notes?

4. Designs from what U.S. coin appear on wooden nickels?

5. How many $3 gold pieces were struck at the Charlotte Mint?

Answers

1. Which coin is known to have full bell lines on well struck specimens?

2. Who designed the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II introduced in 1985?

3. What individual has appeared on more different notes than any other in the U.S.?

4. What is a maverick?

5. What was the name of the eagle that lived at the Philadelphia mint in the early 1800s?

Answers

There are some useful tips at Instructables on how to take great close-up photos. The comments have even more ideas on ways to get the best pictures possible.

Whether you’re cataloging your coin collection or selling some coins on eBay, taking a high-quality photos of your coins is a skill worth developing.

(via Lifehacker)