“I can buy a gallon of gas with a quarter.”  My students would look at me like I didn’t know what I was talking about.  Then I would begin explaining to them that quarters minted from 1932-1964 were about 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.  At today’s silver price of $19.50 an ounce, that would make my quarter worth about $3.60.  Yes, I could buy a gallon of gas with the value of that quarter.  This Christmas, consider a stocking stuffer with money that has real value.  It could be a silver dime, quarter, or even an ounce of silver in an American Silver Eagle.