`  But note the essential feature:  A debtor can force the acceptance of ``legal tender`` to discharge his debt ONLY if the debt is denominated in the SAME currency as the ``legal tender`` money is!  To repeat myself AGAIN:  If you owe me onions (and you could owe me onions!) then I can insist on repayment in onions.     All that legal tender is, is the ascribing to certain examples (coins, notes) of a particular money a special status.  There is nothing to prevent two different monies being in circulation and each of them having coins & notes which are legal tender.  That this is not common does not mean the contrary.   `