RAY: Before anyone gets his tights in a bunch, I just want to say that these are all American coins, currently in circulation and there were no subway tokens involved.

You need to know that vending machines do not take 50 cent pieces.

Tommy has a 50 cent piece, a quarter and four dimes. You can't make change for a quarter. You can't make change for a dollar. You can't make change for a nickel or a dime.

I will admit, I haven't checked every vending machine on the planet but I did check several, and none of them would take a 50 cent coin.

TOM: I will give you a little hint though. They will take 50 cents if you turn them upside down.

RAY: Who's our winner?

TOM: The winner is Sandy Warner from Fish Haven, Idaho. And for having her answer selected at random from among all those correct answers that we got, Sandy is going to get from us a $26 gift certificate to the Shameless Commerce Division, which is on our web site, and with that gift certificate she can do all her holiday shopping in one place. For example, she can get a copy of our new music CD, Born Not to Run for everyone on her Christmas list.

RAY: Oh-oh, she can do that with one $26 gift certificate?

TOM: Well it assumes her list only has 1.529 people on it. Since she listens to our show I'd assume she's very unpopular.

[ Car Talk Puzzler ]