I finally received one of the new dollar coins from the bank today.
I've always been partial to the dollar coin. As a child, my Uncle Joe would give us the large Eisenhower dollars and then seemed huge and impressive. When in England, it seems so natural to use the pound and two pound coins I've never understood why it hasn't been more popular in the US.
Recently the US Mint released the series of Presidential $1 Coins, hoping to revitalize interest in using the dollar coin. The State Quarter series is popular with just about everyone.
Back in 1979, the Mint began striking the Susan B. Anthony dollars. After two years, they stopped and no new dollar coins were made until 2000, when the Sacagawea Dollar Coins were introduced. You can read more Dollar Coin history at wikipedia, of course.
I liked the Susan B. Anthony dollars quite a bit. The story of Women's Suffrage in the US is an important thing to remember as we struggle with new issues of equality and human rights.
But I must say, the new dollars are pretty nice, with a good look and color.
The reverse sides are interesting as well. If you can't tell, the reverse of the Anthony shows an eagle landing on the Moon with the earth in the background. How sweet is that?
The new reverse on the Presidential Dollar is great as well. The simplicity of the design and the move from ONE DOLLAR to $1 is nice.
If we all start using dollar coins for our daily business, it will get them into the register tills and back into the hands of others. So start using the dollar coin and stop using the dollar bill.
I really like dollar coins too. They make me feel so European.
I find the best way to get them is to buy stamps with a $20 from the PO vending machine or put in a $20 when I buy a Metro ticket. They both give dollar coins in change.
Try going into a bank and asking for a roll. They look at you like you are insane and motion for the guard to keep an eye on you.
Posted by: sk [http://embiggen.blogspot.com] on May 14, 2007 9:53 AMThese new dollar coins are quite amazing. Unfortunately, this picture (nor any other I've seen) does justice to the actual coin in your hand. Plus you gotta love the edge lettering on the new $1 coins too! Makes them look like a cool, top-secret message, decoder coin! ;D
38 are scheduled for mint as of right now that extend into 2016. Here is a link to that schedule if anyone missed it:
http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/index.cfm?action=schedule
I liked using the Canadian $1 and $2 coins when we were there a couple years back. The only issues I had while there, and they were minor, was 1) that my pocket would get heavy with all the coins and 2)the coins were all over the place.
The fixes for this were 1) I stopped using paper money so much and instead worked through the coins thus reducing pocket weight and 2) I picked up a coin purse which centralized all the coins in my pocket.
I definitely liked them once I got used to using them.
Posted by: Little Kenny [] on May 14, 2007 4:06 PMI also really like the edges...I dont know that the writing will last very long in circulation but its a nice change.
Posted by: deskjockey [] on May 16, 2007 2:48 AMHere in the inner city, we call those the transvestite dollar. Susan be Anthony.
Posted by: triticale [http://triticale.mu.nu] on May 24, 2007 4:19 PM