Numismatic failures

I had 3 numismatic goals during my European weekends, developed after weekend #1:

1. Obtain a roll of 2 cent euro coins. So I could give people "my 2 cents". Hokey, but cheap.

2. Obtain a 10 euro silver coin. All countries in the euro zone produce silver & gold commemorative coins, but according to my research, Germany is the only country where you can walk into a bank and exchange 10 euros in cash for a 10 euro silver coin at face value. That strikes me as much more civilized than minting a coin with a face value of $5 and selling it for $20 because that's what the metal is actually worth. (Just adjust the weight of the freaking coin!)

3. Obtain a set of the new pence coins in the UK (since we had a stopover at Heathrow in weekend #3). These are circulating coins and are way cool - click here to see.

In Munich, Mrs. Bart and I actually passed a bank during banking hours (rare, given our travel schedules) so I went in, found an employee that spoke English, and asked if they carried the 10 euro coins. She looked at me like I was from the moon (or possibly Jewish), checked with someone, and then told me she had no idea what I was talking about. I left disheartened and without bullion. Thanks, Deutsche Bank.

Goal #2: Epic Fail. "Epic" because this involved interaction with someone.

In Heathrow, all the coins I got as change were the old-style coins. I didn't have the heart to ask anyone at a currency exchange desk whether they had the newer coins.

Goal #3: Fail. Passive failure.

While in the bank in Munich, I should have asked for a roll of the 2 cent coins, but by then I'd been disheartened, so I didn't want to bother.

Goal #1: Fail. Passive failure.

So, I did not meet my goals. I have a goal for a stopover in the Netherlands coming in June, but I'm guessing I won't have much more luck with that than I did my other ones. It kind of sucks when you don't know the language, aren't assertive, and are easily discouraged.

On a more positive note, my primary goal on these trips was to have a good time. I can always buy coins online at ridiculously inflated prices, whereas I can't go back in time and enjoy myself if I was miserable.

Numismatic goals: failures. Life goals: working on it.

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