Coupons - by Brad

Here is a question that has baffled me since I was a kid. I am sure that there is a reasonable explanation for it, and I could probably easily look up the answer online within a few minutes. But quite frankly, it is more fun to blog about it.

Question: Why do coupons state, "Cash value 1/20 of a cent"?

If I collect 20 Quiznos coupons, will they give me a penny? What if I mix them up? Will Target give me a penny for 20 Quiznos coupons? It doesn't say, "1/20 of a cent AT QUIZNOS". Moreover, will YOU give me a penny if I give you 20 coupons?

There must be some legal explanation for why they have to put a cash value on the coupons... but why just $0.005?

If I ever make a coupon I am going to write, "Cash value 34/5671 of a cent".

I have 20 coupons for the first person to give me the answer to my question... or at least the cash equivalent!