Curiously Strong

Originally posted on Saturday, August 18th, 2012

Now Altoids, the “curiously strong mints,” enter the monetary policy arena.

The Curiously Strong Fact imprinted currently on its package stuffer reveals:

“For 3 days in 1924, Altoids were stronger than the U.S. dollar.”

Appropriated from Altoids.com’s Hall of Curiosity

Believed to be more of a tribute to the curiously strong strength of Altoids mints than to the weakness of the 1924 dollar.  That said, just for the record, one 1924 dollar has the buying power of $13.04 today, according to DollarTimes.com.

“Altoids, the Original Celebrated Curiously Strong Mints, were first produced in England at the turn of the 19th century during the reign of King George III. Smith & Co. (est. 1780), the small London firm that developed the original “curiously strong” recipe, later became part of Callard & Bowser, a prestigious English confectioner founded in 1837.

“Altoids peppermints are specially formulated peppermint lozenges many times stronger than ordinary mints. Their curious strength comes from the more than generous use of real peppermint oil, as prescribed in the original recipe developed by Smith & Co. at the turn of the 19th century.”