Coin found today

[Triggersmob]

Today, I sent our driver to the shops to buy cool drinks for our fridge at work. When he came back, he placed the change in my hand and I looked over the coins (as you do) and to my pleasant surprise this was amongst them...



1978 100 Rupiah from Indonesia.

 

[Snooba]

Terrific find, Steve!  Well done!   

[EgCollector]

Nice find Steve

Pardon my ignorance, why is a 1978 100 Rupiah from Indonesia used in Australian change

[ElleKitty]

It shouldn't be, but like any other coinage, sometimes things get mixed up.  Someone probably went to Indonesia and had left over coinage from the trip and either accidentally or sneakily spent it in Australia.. where it would stay in circulation (probably not that long) until someone noticed it.  Canadian and American coins sometimes circulate interchangeably.

New Zealand change probably circulated more freely in Australia, as the coins were all but the same except for the reverse design.  (Until NZ changed that in... 05?)

[Nevol]

I've found coins from about 20 or 30 countries in the last 2 - 3 years. When people go overseas they inevitably bring home a pocket full of change & some of them do as Elle said:

accidentally or sneakily spent it in Australia

I don't mind, I like finding something 'different' when I'm searching coins. 

Failing that, if I want foreign coins, my local Coinshop sells them @ 6 for $1. Anything from 1¢ size up to 20¢ size. Cheap as chips.