Spare a Dime?

It was an unusual convoy. Three armored tractor-trailers were bound from the Denver Mint to the Bank of America in San Francisco last week with a $2.6 million cargo. When they stopped for the night in Oakland, Calif., at the Edgewater-West Adult Motor Inn, known for its X-rated movies, three bandits broke into one of the trucks. The driver on guard saw them only in time to fire his revolver at a Lincoln Continental speeding away.

Missing were 26 sacks of money. But the bandits may be holding the bag in more ways than one. Their loot: 260,000 dimes. True, $26,000 will still buy a good deal, but unloading the shiny new dimes at banks would cause suspicion. The thieves may have to consider spending their money in mundane ways: toll booths, cigarette machines, newspaper racks, telephones. But can you call home again, . . . and again,. . . and again. . .?

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