We came back from Vancouver with two $20 gold pieces in our pocket.

We bought another to give to Henry for his 18th birthday.

"Hey…what's this?" Henry wanted to know.

"It's a gold coin… A Canadian maple leaf…"

"Oh…is it worth anything? It says it's worth $20…kind of a measly birthday present, wouldn't you say, Gary?"

"Well, it's worth a lot more than that. It's gold. An ounce of gold…"

"What's that worth? Two hundred dollars?"

"A lot more than that…"

"But it says it's worth $20. I guess at one time it was worth $20…"

"Yep."

"Can you still use these for money? I mean, can you go into a shop in Canada and pay for things?"

"Well, maybe, but I don't think it would be a good idea…"

"Or maybe you can say to your boss that you want to be paid in these coins? And then, when the IRS asks you how much you made, you can say $20?"

"I don't know Henry, but I think that's the sort of thing that people go to jail for."

"Well, it's their fault the coin is worth more than $20, isn't it? You should be able to use it as $20. I mean, what's going on, anyway? Something funny about this…"

"Oh Henry…this is a very long story…but you're right. It's very funny."

Gary Flemming