In around 1971, I was coming home from college, 60-mile trip, and gasoline was down to $.18 per gallon. So I topped-off the tank. I got home and saw it was $.16. Yes, sixteen cents. And tax was $.14. Gasoline was like two cents per gallon, minus tax. Silver coins were still in circulation, but had not been minted for, like seven years. Silver coins were drying up, but not unusual to find them. If only I had known what was coming. Thanks @silvertop.