The US is weird about currency.
Everywhere else, it’s perfectly normal to trade in currency all day long in public.
Currency kiosks are everywhere in Europe and even Central Asia as well as South America. Virtually all ATMs let you pick from a few customary currencies in the vicinity.
A lot of businesses advertise which currencies they take; dollars and euros most common.
EVERYONE knows what the daily rates are and they can do the conversion arithmetic on demand.
So in those places, if you want, doing a little private currency trading is no big deal.Everyone does it. The trading windows only need licenses to keep them honest, but a lot of that is automated now. The rates are posted so you can check the transaction yourself.
So I dont know what kinda crap the Obamation DoT might have put you through. If it was way below the 10K reporting limit probably nothing. Get close to that and they might think you’re playing games. But on the rest of the planet, doubt if anything would cause any attention.
You’re right in general. Two miles away at the mall is a kiosk that does currency trading but you’re just trading a number at the current exchange rate. No trillion dollar bills to walk off with.
;-)
Ebay has lots out there - plenty for both us if you want a few.