I got my first "sackie"!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

Yeah. I really question the government’s introduction the Sackie without discontinuing the bills. It almost seems as if they want it to fail.

Given that the average life-span of a U.S. $1 bill is well under 2 years, they could have an almost complete changeover in just a few years. And they wouldn’t even have to destroy any dollar bills. They could just replace the “retired” bills with Sackies as they come in. Of course, the $1 bill would still be around, but I expect that in time, it would go the way of the $2 bill.

But I have to say that the re-design of the $100s, $50s, and $20s make me think that the folks at the treasury department are a few pennies short of a Sackie. They seem to have disregarded aesthetic considerations altogether. The two innovations that I welcome are the anti-counterfeiting measures and the inclusion of the bold block number to help the visually impaired. There isn’t much to do about the block number as far as aesthetics, but they sure could have done a better job of working the anti-counterfeiting measures in in a more subtle way. Also, the fact that they stripped Ben Franklin of his fur collar annoys me to no end. The new bill is plain ugly, and it really didn’t need to be that way.

I hear that there is plastic money in Australia and New Zealand. Anybody know what it is like?

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Hey Blue and Green,

You may want to check out this thread in GD: Multi-colored $$$. It discusses a lot of these issues. There’s also a mention of Australian bills on http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000543.html .

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Yeah I love the Sackies…I think we need MORE currency that features teenage mothers.

44

Sorry, messed up that first link. It should beMulti-colored $$$.

By the way Green Bean, where did you get your sackie.

45

Question: have y’all also found that sackies discolor easily? They seem to pick up fingerprints like no other coin, and then they look kinda dingy…

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A twonie, the only money that gives you change back before you spend it.
Canadians??oh well nobody is perfect.LOL

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I’ll bet waiters in bars and restaurants will love the sackie, because ther tips will go up. i find it’s easier to leave coins on the table than bills.

48

My granddaughter loved the sackies I gave her for her b’day (11th), and so did all her friends. I think her older sisters were a little jealous. Might be a sign that they will catch on.
I like them. I’ve spent 5 of them and had no problem at all. Two of the five clerks commented on the coins, but they all knew what they were. I guess we just have a higher caliber of clerks out here where everyone really wishes they could live. :smiley:
Peace,
mangeorge

49

Well, got my first roll of dollar coins today, and I must say I’m impressed.

Couple things. First, I don’t know if other mass transit systems do this, but here in Philadelphia the Susan B’s are alive and well - that’s what the machines give your change back as. But that’s only if you use mass transit - otherwise, they’re nowhere to be found. I always keep one if I come across it.

I compared it to the Sackie (and to quarters) and found I liked the difference - different rim around the face, not edged, and a different weight and thickness really help distinguish it from a quarter, which was the biggest common gripe about the Susan B’s.

Does this mean the Sackie will succeed? Anything can happen. Personally, I love the loonies and toonies in Canada (and the two-tone toonies I think are a way cool coinage). I’m also hoping that more vending machines around my parts start accepting it.

I like those oddball American currencies - the Kennedy half dollar, the Susan B, the $2 bill. Last year I was introduced to the Eisenhower dollar - talk about knowing you’ve got money! I want to get more of them to confuse dimbulb service people - imagine handing the video store clerk an Eisenhower, $2 bill, Sackie, Susan B. and half dollar for a $5.50 purchase! :smiley:

And the biggest reason I like the Sackies is because I’m in the SCA (a Medievalist recreation society, for those who don’t know). A friend of mine from NYC would go to the Exchange before we went to our annual SCA camping trip (The Pennsic War, for those who know it) and get about $100 worth of Eisenhowers, because, as he put it, there is nothing quite so Medieval as walking around with a changepurse full of coins and actually being able to buy things with them. For weight and feel, the Eisenhower’s rule, but for those of us who can’t get them easily (I’ve never, ever seen one in circulation), the Sackies will provide the same thing. We’re looking forward to flipping a coin at some kid and saying, “Boy, fetch me some ice from the store, and there’s another if you’re quick about it!” Very period - very “money!” :slight_smile:

Esprix

Ask the Gay Guy!

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They popped out of the Metrocard machine at 68th and Lex.