Chinese restaraunt accepting junk silver for payment

[opsec]

This was a new experience for me. I found the first retail business I have ever seen that accepts junk silver as well as regular money. I just ate at a chinese restaurant which has a menu priced in pre-1964 silver coins. They are calling it their "50 year menu". The orange chicken entree goes for $.95 face value, the same item on the regular menu is $7.99. Interesting sign of the times.

[Mike]

Opsec?  What's your first thought?  Your speculation?

I think they get paid $.95 in junk silver coins for their special, and pay taxes on $.95 US, less expenses..... whatever they paid in paper US dollars....

Is it a crime to operate at a loss?

[Eddie]

There's probably not to much silver flowing through, who would knowingly use silver to buy a dinner at this point? What state are you in ?

[opsec]

I'm in Nevada. I think they are making money, not taking a loss. I'm seeing junk silver quarters going for $3.35 on the internet. So that works out to about $12.75 worth of junk silver coins for a dinner that is normally priced at $7.99. That looks like a pretty hefty profit to me. More so if they only have to pay tax on the $.95 price.

[Eddie]

I still don't see why someone would pony up four silver quarters when they can go down the street to the coin dealer and exchange the real value at todays rate. Nevada being a semi shady state, there's probably more to the story, like he's catering to the low desperate thieves out there.

[Mike]

The Chinese dinner must cost the proprietor $4 or $5 or $6.

If he sells it for "$.95".....

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I didn't think of the 'thief' angle.   

They wouldn't value the fruits of their labor the way an honest laborer would.  So I can see where they would just let it go, instead of waiting for the coin shop to open the next day.