I.ve just had some interesting correspondence with someone who went to his local grocery store recently and got a Wisconsin Civil War token, dated 1863, in his change. As the piece lists in Fuld at rarity R7, I reckon he has done rather well.

My own best experience was when I was a schoolboy c.1962/63 and found, on the ground outside a London Underground station in not exactly the most salubrious part of London, an 1853 Victoria farthing of the old, large copper type demonitized in 1869.

Best I have heard of for age is the story about a guy who, on going to a coin fair here in London, received a denarius of the Roman emperor Maximinus {235-238 AD} in his change from the taxi driver. The latter was obviously trying to pass it off as a five pence. I have also heard of someone getting a 1709 Queen Anne halfcrown in their change, although I can.t remember the details.

Just wonder whether you might care to invite your readership to contribute other similar stories as to what other unlikely pieces they have found in ordinary circulation?