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.