NationStates Jolt Archive

No plan to replace bill with dollar coin By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
Sun Feb 11, 5:02 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Maybe Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea should not take public rejection personally. It's not easy overcoming people's indifference to dollar coins, even those honoring such historic figures.

An AP-Ipsos poll found that three-fourths of people surveyed oppose replacing the dollar bill, featuring George Washington, with a dollar coin. People are split evenly on the idea of having both a dollar bill and a dollar coin.

A new version of the coin, paying tribute to American presidents, goes into general circulation Thursday. Even though doing away with the bill could save hundreds of millions of dollars each year in printing costs, there is no plan to scrap the bill in favor of the more durable coin.

"I really don't see any use for it," Larry Ashbaugh, a retiree from Bristolville, Ohio, said of the dollar coin. "We tried it before. It didn't fly."

Two recent efforts to promote wide usage of a dollar coin proved unsuccessful. A quarter-century ago, it showed feminist Susan B. Anthony on the front; then one in 2000 featuring Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian who helped guide the Lewis and Clark expedition.

The latest dollar coin will bear Washington's image, followed later this year by those of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. A different president will appear on the golden dollar coins every three months.

The series of coins will depict four different presidents per year, in the order they served.

Congress voted to create the new dollar coin, betting that this series would be more popular than its recent predecessors.

The Susan B. Anthony dollar put the image of the women's rights activist on a small silver coin that looked a lot like a quarter. The U.S Mint was left with millions of unused coins.

As for the Sacagawea dollar, gold in color, millions of the coins also piled up in bank vaults for the same reason: lack of demand.

People say they just prefer the traditional greenback.

"The dollar bill is lighter, takes up less space in a clutch or a man's wallet and paper money counts easier and stacks up easier than metallic coins," said Nena Wise of York, Pa.

People have strong feelings about their money, even the penny.

A congressional effort to reduce the need for the cent piece failed even though it costs more to produce the copper-colored coin than the coin is worth.

When people were asked whether the penny should be eliminated, 71 percent said no, according to the poll of 1,000 adults conducted Nov, 28-30. Some fear that getting rid of the penny will cause product prices to be rounded up, perhaps increasing inflation.

In other poll findings:

_53 percent said they carry their loose change collected during the day to use for future purchases.

_42 percent put their loose change in a jar or piggy bank each day.

_48 percent said they use cash for purchases under $10.

_28 percent said they usually use cash in such cases, but sometimes use credit or debit cards, according to the poll with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Rather than a high-profile ad campaign like the one used to introduce the Sacagawea dollar, the Mint is trying a more grass-roots approach. The agency is talking to the Federal Reserve, banks and vending machine operators to stir up interest in the new dollar coin.

Supporters of the new presidential dollar coin point to the success of the 50-state quarter program. Begun in 1999, this program has introduced millions of people to coin collecting for the first time.

For Richard Wander of Albany, N.Y, the dollar coin is a welcome addition because he is "kind of a collector."

"I think it's good to have both," he said. "Instead of taking time to put four quarters in a parking meter, you could put in a dollar.

"But I think dollar bills are part of the economic system," he said, "and they work fine."

The presidential coins will be the 14th dollar coin series produced by the Mint going back to 1794. The Susan B. Anthony replaced the Eisenhower dollar in 1979.

Before the Eisenhower dollar's introduction in 1971, there was a gap of 36 years when the Mint did not produce a dollar coin after the last Peace dollar was minted in 1935.

The public can start getting the Washington dollars on Thursday from commercial banks that have placed orders with the Federal Reserve, which handles coin distribution for the Mint.

U.S. Mint Director Edmund C. Moy said he was encouraged by the initial demand for the new coin. The Fed has ordered 300 million Washington dollars so far.

AP Manager of News Surveys Trevor Tompson, News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius and economics writer Martin Crutsinger contributed to this report.

U.S. Mint's dollar coin program: http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/

http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/index.cfm?flash=yes

I've always found bills to be a lot easier than coins. I mean, the only things I pay cash for cost less than $10, so I wouldn't want to carry around an inconvenient mix of coins and bills in order to make small purchases.

Not to mention coins are heavier and clink around.

I like coins. I want more coin money. Fives, tens and even twenties should all be issued as only coins. Then we'll all start wearing belt pouches again. It'll be groovy. :)

I like coins. I want more coin money. Fives, tens and even twenties should all be issued as only coins. Then we'll all start wearing belt pouches again. It'll be groovy. :)

It would be like an RPG.

I agree with Nena Wise of York, Pa.

People say they just prefer the traditional greenback.

"The dollar bill is lighter, takes up less space in a clutch or a man's wallet and paper money counts easier and stacks up easier than metallic coins," said Nena Wise of York, Pa.

It would be like an RPG.

All I'd need then is a cloak and a quarterstaff to whack people with. :)

All I'd need then is a cloak and a quarterstaff to whack people with. :)

I'm going to shave my head, by a red robe, and get my Red Wizard tattoos.

I'm going to shave my head, by a red robe, and get my Red Wizard tattoos.
Lichdom (http://monkey10309.tripod.com/images/HOMM5_Necropolis_Creature_Lich.jpg) is where it's at nowadays. :p

Anyway, on topic, we have £1 and £2 coins in Britain. I love them. Prefer them to paper money anyway.

Lichdom (http://monkey10309.tripod.com/images/HOMM5_Necropolis_Creature_Lich.jpg) is where it's at nowadays. :p

You've got to learn to walk before you can run...it takes power to become a lich.

Anyway, on topic, we have £1 and £2 coins in Britain. I love them. Prefer them to paper money anyway.

Yeah, but those are nice and small, and easy to carry.

Our dollar coins have either been big hulking things or small and easy to confuse with quarters....it hasn't worked too well.

I'm going to shave my head, by a red robe, and get my Red Wizard tattoos.

Where can you find a good spellbook these days?

Where can you find a good spellbook these days?

Borders. :)

Where can you find a good spellbook these days?

Usenet...the dark vaults of the Old Internet hold much forgotten lore.

Where can you find a good spellbook these days?
Raiding an Alhoon's lair should be a good place to start. :)

You've got to learn to walk before you can run...it takes power to become a lich.
One must keep the ultimate goal in mind though!

Yeah, but those are nice and small, and easy to carry.

Our dollar coins have either been big hulking things or small and easy to confuse with quarters....it hasn't worked too well.
Yes, you yanks do have the tendency to take everything we do and make it bigger, flashier and... tackier.

Cash is so much better.

I am not a fan of coins.

One must keep the ultimate goal in mind though!

Remember, becoming a lich is the stepping stone to Godhood.

Cash is so much better.

I am not a fan of coins.
Newsflash: Coins are a form of cash. :) Cash refers to both paper money and coin.

I like coins. I want more coin money. Fives, tens and even twenties should all be issued as only coins. Then we'll all start wearing belt pouches again. It'll be groovy. :)
We have coins going up to $10 here in HK and in Taiwan they go right up to $50. Of course that's only $1.25 and $1.50US, respectively.

Newsflash: Coins are a form of cash. :) Cash refers to both paper money and coin.

You lie! :mad:

I still hate coins.

Remember, becoming a lich is the stepping stone to Godhood.
http://images.epilogue.net/users/devianttrace/thumb/Demilich1.jpg

Frankly, I'd stop when I became one of those ('tis a demilich). :)

We switched from 1 and 2 dollar notes to coin here in Australia in 84 and 88 respectively.

It seems silly to me that people refuse to do something that'll save hundreds of millions of dollars (and eventually more) just for the sake of familiarity and tradition (and I use the world lightly). Same thing with the superior metric system.

Going off topic now, but I remember recently on Fox & Friends that snivelling black-haired guy was bitching about how France's workplace minister (or whatever their equivalent is) wanted to promote taking naps during the day, and seemed to think that this was another example of the lazy French and then said the reason the economies of countries already with siestas was because of the naps. Truth is that power-naps actually do help revigorate people, and that the 10 minutes lost will be more than made up for. Of course, he hadn't done any research as usual and didn't have any clue what he was talking about... How relevant.

Excellent. Next will come five, ten, and twenty dollar coins. It'll be much easier to return to the gold standard afterwards. Having coins minted from precious metals destroys counterfeiting.

Excellent. Next will come five, ten, and twenty dollar coins. It'll be much easier to return to the gold standard afterwards. Having coins minted from precious metals destroys counterfeiting.

Not necessarily...counterfeiters can make fake gold coins pretty easily, and most people probably couldn't tell the difference at all if they're not experienced with handling precious metals.

To avoid having this post be totally off-topic: I generally hate coins, but I'm not sure if I want the government spending hundreds of millions of dollars on something it really doesn't need to.

Borders. :)

Hmm, I always do look in the obvious places last.

Raiding an Alhoon's lair should be a good place to start. :)

Ah, but there is a catch: how do I deal with an alhoon without any spells prepared?

Usenet...the dark vaults of the Old Internet hold much forgotten lore.

What's the current price range?

(I wonder what Jack Chick would think of this conversation?)

Ah, but there is a catch: how do I deal with an alhoon without any spells prepared?
Pay a Svirfneblin to steal it for you. :)

It seems silly to me that people refuse to do something that'll save hundreds of millions of dollars (and eventually more) just for the sake of familiarity and tradition (and I use the world lightly). Same thing with the superior metric system.

Yep. Coins are awesome, I had about 20 two dollar coins in my room a few months ago, they make a great sound.

Not necessarily...counterfeiters can make fake gold coins pretty easily, and most people probably couldn't tell the difference at all if they're not experienced with handling precious metals.

All you'd need is a scale.

Pay a Svirfneblin to steal it for you. :)

The market price for a svirfneblin capable of completing and willing to complete that task is surely astronomic.

Who wants to anger an alhoon?

All you'd need is a scale.

And who routinely weighs their money?

The market price for a svirfneblin capable of completing and willing to complete that task is surely astronomic.

Who wants to anger an alhoon?
True... and it's not as if depriving them of their beloved book will strip them of their powers. They'll know who did it, and want to make them suffer for it too.

Now, if you had a scroll or artefact containing some kind of mind-compelling spell, then maybe you could get the midget to obey (as well as the necessary arcane skill to later deal with the angered Alhoon). If not, tough luck.

And who routinely weighs their money?

Bank workers

Bank workers
And shopkeepers, back in the old days.

All you'd need is a scale.

But how many people routinely weigh their money? It would slow down transactions quite a bit if they had to constantly check its weight. Also, counterfeiters could use heavy metals to make it similar in feel to gold, enough to fool most people without deeper examination.

Bank workers

And aren't there ways for bank workers to discern the difference between real dollar bills and counterfeited dollar bills, too?

What's to stop any counterfeiter from closely approximating the weight of any kind of currency, anyway?

True... and it's not as if depriving them of their beloved book will strip them of their powers. They'll know who did it, and want to make them suffer for it too.

I did think of that, but I hoped they'd blame it on the poor deep gnome, who, if he or she were willing to take up the task, would surely be capable of self-defense.

Then again, you never know with mind flayers, mind flayer liches least of all.

then maybe you could get the midget to obey.

I'm not like you... I want to be a good wizard. ;)

I did think of that, but I hoped they'd blame it on the poor deep gnome, who, if he or she were willing to take up the task, would surely be capable of self-defense.
Or run as fast as its little legs could carry it, alas to no avail. On the other hand, a thief of such skill would typically carry expensive gear, such as teleportation items, so the result needn't be so tragic.

Then again, you never know with mind flayers, mind flayer liches least of all.
Indeed, even the "normal" mind flayers fail to comprehend the inner workings of the Alhoon mind.

I'm not like you... I want to be a good wizard. ;)
Yes, that was clearly the drow in me. :)

We switched from 1 and 2 dollar notes to coin here in Australia in 84 and 88 respectively.


We also have $5 coins and $200 coins. but they have never been put into circulation, and I say that the heavens for that as the $5 coin was the same size as the second inner ring of a CD (the one closest to the spindal) and the $200 was every so slightly smaller than a $2 coin

But how many people routinely weigh their money? It would slow down transactions quite a bit if they had to constantly check its weight. Also, counterfeiters could use heavy metals to make it similar in feel to gold, enough to fool most people without deeper examination.

Would those same counterfeiters be able to make those duplicates the exact size and shape? I may very well be wrong, but I don't think that the density of gold is matched (except for lead, possibly, but that's a soft metal). And wouldn't the object of counterfeiting be to make a profit? Heavy metals and the stamping equipment required to shape them like coins would be so expensive as to make it not worth it (unlike our current currency, which is made out of fucking cotton).

I have the Sacagawea (http://edge.i-hacked.com/wp-content/sacagaweacoin.jpg) on my key chain, dad does too. We drilled the hole between Liberty and year.

Yeah, we replaced the $1 & $2 notes with coins back in the 80s and it has worked well.

I say go for it, change them over. In a couple of years time, you won't even remember the difference.

The reason why people hate coins is that after decades of inflation have rendered them basically worthless, you have to count out a big pile of coins just to buy lunch. If the smaller denominations are removed, and larger denominations are made then it wouldn't be such a big deal. Besides, American $1 bills are fragile, after a year or two they need to be replaced, coins last decades so they are much cheaper in the long run.

(In Australia we use plastic money, extremely difficult to counterfeit and virtually indestructible)

I've always found bills to be a lot easier than coins. I mean, the only things I pay cash for cost less than $10, so I wouldn't want to carry around an inconvenient mix of coins and bills in order to make small purchases.

Not to mention coins are heavier and clink around.
I hate braking Twenties and being left with a load of coins and a $5 note.

let's just go back to trade.. I'll be a tanner or a potter.. or both!

The reason why people hate coins is that after decades of inflation have rendered them basically worthless, you have to count out a big pile of coins just to buy lunch. If the smaller denominations are removed, and larger denominations are made then it wouldn't be such a big deal. Besides, American $1 bills are fragile, after a year or two they need to be replaced, coins last decades so they are much cheaper in the long run.

(In Australia we use plastic money, extremely difficult to counterfeit and virtually indestructible)

I'd rather my money have worth independent of whatever the government says it is.

And plastic money? Seriously? Christ, you guys are so far down the tunnel there that you've blasted the exits shut.

I'd rather my money have worth independent of whatever the government says it is.

And plastic money? Seriously? Christ, you guys are so far down the tunnel there that you've blasted the exits shut.

Our plastic money is step one of our space program.

I'd rather my money have worth independent of whatever the government says it is.

And plastic money? Seriously? Christ, you guys are so far down the tunnel there that you've blasted the exits shut.

What relevance is it that it's made from plastic, rather than fabric/paper? :confused:

Plastic notes last about five times as long as "paper" notes. I still come across $5 notes that were produced in 1999 (the first year that NZ had plastic notes) and they are still in quite good condition; only the colour has slightly faded - I doubt that the American $5 lasts as long as the Kiwi $5.

Down here, we got rid of our one and two cent coins and one and two dollar notes back in 1990, and we got rid of our five cent coin last year and shrunk the size quite considerably of our ten, twenty and fifty cent coins. As a till operator, I find the absence of worthless coins quite handy as it means less counting up to do, and also the absence of worthless notes is also quite handy (as it is, we often run out of $5 and $10 notes, imagine with $1 and $2 notes also).

Personally, I think the Americans should scrap the cent, change the metal content of the nickel, scrap the dollar note and replace with a coin, and encourage the circulation of the 50 cent coin and $2 note

I bet the U.S. could safe millions in not having to print $1 bills but using longer lasting coins instead.

The problem with introducing the $1 coin before was that it was easily mistaken for a quarter. Since they were not very common, when you glanced at a coin that looks like a quarter, you assumed it was a quarter.

The newer coin simply never took off for a variety of reasons – one of which I’m sure is retail. Having to deal with an extra coin is a pain in the ass. Were it to be introduced while the penny was removed, it would facilitate acceptance. It also had the failing that it could not be used in most vending machines or parking meters – which, in my opinion, is the primary use people have for coins. Unless everyone knows the US mint is committed to the coin for the foreseeable future they are not going to redesign the machines to take it.

The 50c coin is hated by everyone because of its size. It is just too damn big to be convenient. Were it a better size it would be more widely used, though it too falls victim to the whole ‘there are too many coins to deal with as it is’ problem. The cost of having to deal with an extra coin type does not outweigh the negligible inconvenience of just using 2 quarters.

Eliminate the penny, it is practically useless anyway. You know a coin isn't worth minting when people won’t even bother to pick one up off the street.

Keep paper dollars as well as the coins – paper is easier to deal with than a pocketful of metal. I very much like the NZ dollar though, it makes a lot of sense to me. They were almost indestructible (in terms of normal wear and tear). Though probably more expensive to produce, that is outweighed by vastly improved durability and being more difficult to counterfeit. At the very least it would give North Korea a massive headache (for those of you who don’t know, the NK government mass produces counterfeit US dollars).

Since electronic payments are more common for most retail transactions (you can even use them for fast food), the only place you really use cash is for informal transactions on the streets, vending machines, or other minor transactions (like stuffing a dollar bill in a strippers garter). Coins work well for most of that (just not the stripper – don’t go there, its too easy) but who wants to carry around lots of coins? I hate them. I would much rather carry around a couple of bills than coins.

The problem with introducing the $1 coin before was that it was easily mistaken for a quarter. Since they were not very common, when you glanced at a coin that looks like a quarter, you assumed it was a quarter.


Not sure what sorts of metal/colours are used for coins in the U.S., but in Australia anything less than a dollar is silver and the one and two dollar coins are gold (and of course different sizes).

I use cash for nearly all purchases, I loathe writing checks. I rarely if ever use my credit cards, even for large purchases. When I go shopping I often carry several hundred dollars in cash. Most I've ever carried on me was $2300.

I do spend the dollar coins when I get my hands on them. The biggest reason they're not used is that they're so bloody rare. Making them a limited release was stupid in the extreme.

As for pocket change I never carry it, toss it in a jar at home.

Another advantage to coins is that it is easier for blind people to count their own money.

In Canada, we have the $1 coin, which is slightly larger than a quarter and has a smooth edge. The quarter has a textured edge. Consequently, it is very easy to tell them apart without even looking at them. The $2 coin is a little bigger still, but has an edge that is partly textured and partly smooth.

I assume that there are no tactile differences at all between a $5 bill and a $100 bill. Consequently, blind people are at a disadvantage.

I assume that there are no tactile differences at all between a $5 bill and a $100 bill. Consequently, blind people are at a disadvantage.

One disadvantage is the weight of all those loonies and toonies in your pockets, jangling around...if you fall into the water they might drag you down... :D

You know, there has been talk of a $5 coin...ack!

You know, there has been talk of a $5 coin...ack!Meh. Back when we still had the DM, there were 5 DM coins. They weren't very common though, but there if you needed them.

Not sure what sorts of metal/colours are used for coins in the U.S., but in Australia anything less than a dollar is silver and the one and two dollar coins are gold (and of course different sizes).

The Sacagawea dollars minted in 2000 are golden (at least they learned from that mistake), but the Susan B Anthony coins were roughly the same size and color as a 25c piece. They were supposed to be differentiated by having an edge made up of 11 sides rather than it being round. The vending machine lobby complained and had it made round - which eliminated the only obvious way of telling them apart.

Man, they've never used Euros. It's awesome.

Coins are hawt.

Another advantage to coins is that it is easier for blind people to count their own money.

In Canada, we have the $1 coin, which is slightly larger than a quarter and has a smooth edge. The quarter has a textured edge. Consequently, it is very easy to tell them apart without even looking at them. The $2 coin is a little bigger still, but has an edge that is partly textured and partly smooth.

I assume that there are no tactile differences at all between a $5 bill and a $100 bill. Consequently, blind people are at a disadvantage.

there are differences to help the blind yes...but from the post here americans haven't had much exposure to modern coinage, the different colours and designs...in Canada coinage below a dollar are all silver(except the penny, copper) but different sizes, the dollar is gold and the two dollar has a silver ring with a gold center, there is no mistaking a $1 or $2 coin for a quarter...and this concern with likeness of denominations seems weird considering american bills are all the same colour...

When mill they learn you can't have both? KEEP THE ALMIGHTY COPPER PENNY!

Just out of curiousity, will these coins depict the official White House portraits of the President (in metal carving form, of course), or will they be subject to the same customization as the state quarters series?

I bet the U.S. could safe millions in not having to print $1 bills but using longer lasting coins instead.

Doubtful. Bills are far, far cheaper to produce than coins.

I fucking hate dollar coins. I have so many of them from the train ticket machines and vending machines at college. :mad:

They're okay though. Annoying, but okay.

What I like about one and two dollar coins is if you're in the habit of routinely throwing all your pocket-change into an old cookie jar, it really adds up after a few months. I found I had a few hundred bucks in ones and twos last time I cleared out my coin-jar.

Heh, if this flies Americans will just be one step closer to Canadianization. You just gotta think of a stupid name for your new coin.:headbang:

Another thing is, stores haven't fully adapted. I went to a store and tried to buy some stuff with $5 in coins, and the cashier wouldn't accept them because she said "those aren't dollars." After about 15 minutes of telling her how they are, I left without buying anything with a screaming girl behind me begging for me to buy it anyway... even though she refused to accept my money. :rolleyes:

Another thing is, stores haven't fully adapted. I went to a store and tried to buy some stuff with $5 in coins, and the cashier wouldn't accept them because she said "those aren't dollars." After about 15 minutes of telling her how they are, I left without buying anything with a screaming girl behind me begging for me to buy it anyway... even though she refused to accept my money. :rolleyes:

Did you tell her it is illegal not to accept them?

Did you tell her it is illegal not to accept them?I didn't even think of that.

I didn't even think of that.

if you don't think of a good came back at the time, you do later when you could of use it then

if you don't think of a good came back at the time, you do later when you could of use it thenQFT.

First of all Sel Appa, there has not been a copper penny since 1982 - all the pennies in America are made of zinc.

Secondly, the American 50 cent coin is not that large, in fact, it would probably be the same size as the old New Zealand 50 cent or the Australian 50 cent, or any of the 50 cents used in the Pacific Islands. I have never found a large 50 cent annoying, and in fact had a slight preference for handling it. What put the Americans off the 50 cent coin was the fact that it was the last part silver coin minted, and as a silver coin, it tended to be hoarded. Also, I believe the similarity in value to the quarter (twice the value), as opposed to the 20 cent coins used in the old British Empire has put people off it.

Also, yes I do know plenty about coins getting mixed up. I recall (before the NZ coin change of last year) coming across Thai Baht, American & Canadian Dimes and Quarters, British Five and Ten Pences and a myriad of coins from throughout the Pacific being used as New Zealand money.

Here in the UK we have £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p coins. We still have £1 notes produced by the bank of Scotland but their not wide spread throughout the UK. We replaced the £1 note with coin in the 70's and its worked well. Coins last much longer and it makes life a lot easier for vending machine companies. As far as counterfeiting is concerned Bank Of England notes are near imposable to fake without very expensive equipment, unlike the scotch and N.AIrish notes that can be run off an inkjet printer.

I support a dollar coin






"It's alive!!"

13-02-2007, anyone?

I am a Canadian, so I find the idea of a bill for $1 or $2 completely abhorrent. I wish we had a $5 coin (While I am at it, our dimes are larger than our nickels, so I think they should switch those two, just so they match up with every other coin being larger because it is worth more). To be completely honest, I think American paper money is a bit boring. Coins are the way to go.

Heh, if this flies Americans will just be one step closer to Canadianization. You just gotta think of a stupid name for your new coin.:headbang:


like the "Looney" was a good one for canada!

but yer right,why do we always name them after unpopular people? it'll probly be the "Spears" or the "Hilton"dollar...cold hard slutty cash.

and why make it small and thick! Silver dollar size is best so you know its a dollar..not 2 quarters stuck together by the gunk in you jeans pocket!

But they probly won't make one,since it cost the US Govt. 2 cents just to make a penny.

Holy Crap!! ZOMBIE THREAD !!! QUICK, SHOOT IT IN THE HEAD!!!:sniper:

coins are better...especially if you need to use a vending machine
*nods*

I didn't pay attention to the date on the posts since I hadn't voted yet and thought it was new. I started reading .. then I see a post by me and was like wtf ... I don't remember posting this last night. hahaha. But I'd still like to be a potter! :p Not a tanner though.. after having read about it. That's hard ass work.

I've always found bills to be a lot easier than coins. I mean, the only things I pay cash for cost less than $10, so I wouldn't want to carry around an inconvenient mix of coins and bills in order to make small purchases.

Not to mention coins are heavier and clink around.

There is also the fact that coins were far more useful during the times when we had a gold standard. Without a gold standard coins lose their real value and simply become the same as the bills, only heavier. Thus I don't really see a need for a dollar coin or anything of higher value unless we decide to stupidly reinstate the gold standard.

EDIT: Oh dear. This is a zombie thread. I apologize for posting in it.

EDIT: Oh dear. This is a zombie thread. I apologize for posting in it.

My fault, I'm the one who brought it back to 'life' :(

But how many people routinely weigh their money? It would slow down transactions quite a bit if they had to constantly check its weight. Also, counterfeiters could use heavy metals to make it similar in feel to gold, enough to fool most people without deeper examination.

So how many people are used to routine "deeper examinmation" of their bills? I'll wager that with printing and computers being what they are that bills are still easier to counterfeit than coins.

I'd rather my money have worth independent of whatever the government says it is.

And plastic money? Seriously? Christ, you guys are so far down the tunnel there that you've blasted the exits shut.

Uh...what does it matter what you make the bill out of? If it lasts longer than cotton and paper, then that's saving the treasury money. I'm all for that.

Doubtful. Bills are far, far cheaper to produce than coins.

Uh, no. Didn't you read the OP link? Dropping the $1 bill would save the treasury money.

Honestly, I can't understand a society that complains about government waste and then bitches when government comes up with a way to save money because it's mildly -- mildly, hell, infinitesimally -- inconvenient.

Bring on the coins.

And taking less space in a purse or wallet? Show me $20 in $1s and 20 $1 coins and compare volume, especially if the bills are even a little used (brand new bills would be less cumbersome, I grant you). Ever try to fold that many singles into a wallet and still be able to sit without a pronounced lean and a bruise on your ass?

Also, why is it a bad thread just because it's old?

I've always found bills to be a lot easier than coins. I mean, the only things I pay cash for cost less than $10, so I wouldn't want to carry around an inconvenient mix of coins and bills in order to make small purchases.

Not to mention coins are heavier and clink around.

To be fair, almost every other major currency in the world manages fine, the Aussie Dollar, the NZ Dollar, The Pound Sterling, the Euro, the loony asian ones where you get like 1000 to the $ etc.
the Aussie, NZ Dollars, Pounds and Euros all have coins of twice that denomination.
It works well, as well as notes. The mix is nice.

AMK
xxx

I didn't pay attention to the date on the posts since I hadn't voted yet and thought it was new. I started reading .. then I see a post by me and was like wtf ... I don't remember posting this last night. hahaha. But I'd still like to be a potter! :p Not a tanner though.. after having read about it. That's hard ass work.

Same with me, I couldn't for the life of me remember this thread from yesterday, until I had a good look at the date & saw it was Feb 07, not 08! :p

Anyway, dollar coins are fine. We have $1 & $2 coins & we seem to manage OK. The sky hasn't come crashing down or anything.

No plan to replace bill with dollar coin By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
Sun Feb 11, 5:02 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Maybe Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea should not take public rejection personally. It's not easy overcoming people's indifference to dollar coins, even those honoring such historic figures.

An AP-Ipsos poll found that three-fourths of people surveyed oppose replacing the dollar bill, featuring George Washington, with a dollar coin. People are split evenly on the idea of having both a dollar bill and a dollar coin.

A new version of the coin, paying tribute to American presidents, goes into general circulation Thursday. Even though doing away with the bill could save hundreds of millions of dollars each year in printing costs, there is no plan to scrap the bill in favor of the more durable coin.

"I really don't see any use for it," Larry Ashbaugh, a retiree from Bristolville, Ohio, said of the dollar coin. "We tried it before. It didn't fly."

Two recent efforts to promote wide usage of a dollar coin proved unsuccessful. A quarter-century ago, it showed feminist Susan B. Anthony on the front; then one in 2000 featuring Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian who helped guide the Lewis and Clark expedition.

The latest dollar coin will bear Washington's image, followed later this year by those of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. A different president will appear on the golden dollar coins every three months.

The series of coins will depict four different presidents per year, in the order they served.

Congress voted to create the new dollar coin, betting that this series would be more popular than its recent predecessors.

The Susan B. Anthony dollar put the image of the women's rights activist on a small silver coin that looked a lot like a quarter. The U.S Mint was left with millions of unused coins.

As for the Sacagawea dollar, gold in color, millions of the coins also piled up in bank vaults for the same reason: lack of demand.

People say they just prefer the traditional greenback.

"The dollar bill is lighter, takes up less space in a clutch or a man's wallet and paper money counts easier and stacks up easier than metallic coins," said Nena Wise of York, Pa.

People have strong feelings about their money, even the penny.

A congressional effort to reduce the need for the cent piece failed even though it costs more to produce the copper-colored coin than the coin is worth.

When people were asked whether the penny should be eliminated, 71 percent said no, according to the poll of 1,000 adults conducted Nov, 28-30. Some fear that getting rid of the penny will cause product prices to be rounded up, perhaps increasing inflation.

In other poll findings:

_53 percent said they carry their loose change collected during the day to use for future purchases.

_42 percent put their loose change in a jar or piggy bank each day.

_48 percent said they use cash for purchases under $10.

_28 percent said they usually use cash in such cases, but sometimes use credit or debit cards, according to the poll with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Rather than a high-profile ad campaign like the one used to introduce the Sacagawea dollar, the Mint is trying a more grass-roots approach. The agency is talking to the Federal Reserve, banks and vending machine operators to stir up interest in the new dollar coin.

Supporters of the new presidential dollar coin point to the success of the 50-state quarter program. Begun in 1999, this program has introduced millions of people to coin collecting for the first time.

For Richard Wander of Albany, N.Y, the dollar coin is a welcome addition because he is "kind of a collector."

"I think it's good to have both," he said. "Instead of taking time to put four quarters in a parking meter, you could put in a dollar.

"But I think dollar bills are part of the economic system," he said, "and they work fine."

The presidential coins will be the 14th dollar coin series produced by the Mint going back to 1794. The Susan B. Anthony replaced the Eisenhower dollar in 1979.

Before the Eisenhower dollar's introduction in 1971, there was a gap of 36 years when the Mint did not produce a dollar coin after the last Peace dollar was minted in 1935.

The public can start getting the Washington dollars on Thursday from commercial banks that have placed orders with the Federal Reserve, which handles coin distribution for the Mint.

U.S. Mint Director Edmund C. Moy said he was encouraged by the initial demand for the new coin. The Fed has ordered 300 million Washington dollars so far.

AP Manager of News Surveys Trevor Tompson, News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius and economics writer Martin Crutsinger contributed to this report.

U.S. Mint's dollar coin program: http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/

http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/index.cfm?flash=yes

Picked up some in Manhattan. Don't care much either way.

Our dollar coins have either been big hulking things or small and easy to confuse with quarters....it hasn't worked too well.

Heh like decimilisation when I was really young. All the oldies didn't like that nor the pound coin when it first come out. I say meh it's money, I really don't care how it comes, as long as it does.

I think we ought to have a 5 dollar coin.

I like dollar coins for events and RenFaires, makes it feel more real to pay in gold coins. Otherwise, i have enough crap to carry around without worrying about more bloody coins!

Heh, we already have one here in the UK -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39401000/jpg/_39401537_50pence238.jpg

I'd support a dollar coin as long as it contained 1/20 troy oz. of silver....It'd be a good reminder of how a century ago, 1 oz silver = 1 dollar.