This new wrinkle on the ugly old mug of government monopoly currency control recently appeared in papers across the nation:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/2006-12-14-melting-ban-usat_x.htm?POE=NEWI...

There's nothing quite like private property, and the government outlawing
competition in the issuance of currency. Meanwhile, it devalues its own
coinage so much, it then has to prohibit us from melting it down for the
basic constituents!

Enjoy spending your devalued currency.