Reply #79: Really? The first time I remember seeing a station that posted they

[ET Awful]

wouldn't accept anything larger than a $20 was in Phoenix, AZ around 1989 or so. For them it was because of theft (I asked the guy).

Here's an interesting article on the subject (yeah, it's a blog, but has some good info) http://tweezersedge.com/archives/2003/08/000077.html

As to it being "legal tender" from the US Treasury site:

http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/currency/legal-tender.html

" The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 102. This is now found in section 392 of Title 31 of the United States Code. The law says that: "All coins and currencies of the United States, regardless of when coined or issued, shall be legal-tender for all debts, public and private, public charges, taxes, duties and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy."