The 8008 was: Blinky lights WAS: The SR71 Blackbird was designed ENTIRELYwith slide rules 679

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 14:25:47 +0930, David

I hate to open this can of worms yet again, but you don't really undertand what "legal tender" means. In the US, accoridng the US Treasury Department:

" ... The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, enbreastled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."

"This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and-or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. ... "

That's true. But the question is, is that legal?

The ansser for the USA is quite clear; Googling for the Aussie answer doesn't seem to be so easy. But the Australian governmetn

"Currency means the coin and paper money of Australia or of a foreign country that:

"- is designated as legal tender

"- circulates as, and is customarily used and accepted as, a medium of exchange in the country of origin "

The word "customarily" being of note. So is there a law specifically requiring a vendor to accept cash?

* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * * My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *