" wrote:
On 28/12/2011 01:20, Miles Bader wrote:
I don't know the somewhat softer metal would have any significant
effect on durability in normal use, but I haven't noticed any
obvious
difference from other Japanese coins in terms of wear or average
age.

[I like these small aluminum coins because they're very easy on
the
pockets and very easy to identify by touch.]


They also had them in Italy and East Germany, when they
respectively had
the lira and mark. I think that I even have a 50-pfennig and 1-mark
piece somewhere.


Apparently several Euro zone countries - including Germany - have now
completed the printing of sufficient banknotes in their own
currencies to be able to cope when/if the Euro fails.

I wonder if they have also minted coins?