# I'm not digging these new dollar coins.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [February 15, 2007, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324 "2007-02-15T08:37:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/1 "2007-02-15T08:37:39Z")
[Check them out.](http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/index.cfm?flash=yes) Is it me, or does James Madison look like he just had a stroke? George is looking frighteningly stern, which I suppose is fitting for a Father of a Country, but John Adams looks like a poncy git and Jefferson is smirking because he knows he has the thickest eyebrows of them all.
I wonder if they’re going to tarnish like crazy within 6 seconds of manufacture like the Sacajaweas did.
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### Author:  [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/2 "2007-02-15T08:41:23Z")
I was disappointed that the rumor which stated the “In God We Trust” statement was removed turned out to be false ☹
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/3 "2007-02-15T10:48:15Z")
Madison and Jefferson look like really nasty customers.
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/4 "2007-02-15T10:52:00Z")
The thing I really hate with these dollar coins, is the mint trying to pass them off as gold like, and precious.
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/5 "2007-02-15T11:10:19Z")
I’m inpressed that they got [Noel Gallagher](http://www.hecklerspray.com/imppix/photos/uncategorized/noel_gallagher_rolling_stones.jpg) to model for the Jefferson coin.
Thing is, if the US Mint really wants people to start using dollar coins, they need to stop making fancy special-edition ones and just mint a few billion really dull utilitarian coins that people won’t think twice about using. The moment someone thinks: “That’s a neat coin, I’ll save it in this drawer,” that coin has failed.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/6 "2007-02-15T11:33:25Z")
Personally, I think what they need to do is phase out dollar bills and get more vending machines to take the dollar coins.
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### Author:  [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/7 "2007-02-15T12:45:18Z")
Most vending machines I frequent are pretty close-minded about accepting new currency. You can talk to them for hours and they won’t budge. 😉
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### Author:  [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/8 "2007-02-15T12:55:00Z")
Madison looks pissed. Like he’s looking for an excuse to fire someone.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/9 "2007-02-15T13:15:54Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon]
.
Thing is, if the US Mint really wants people to start using dollar coins, they need to stop making fancy special-edition ones and just mint a few billion really dull utilitarian coins that people won’t think twice about using. The moment someone thinks: “That’s a neat coin, I’ll save it in this drawer,” that coin has failed.
[/QUOTE]
On the contrary, they have succeeded. They have just made something for a few pennies that will never be redeemed. Why do you think the post office encourages collectors? Every stamp not used is greater profit than one that is.
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/10 "2007-02-15T13:45:55Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat]
On the contrary, they have succeeded. They have just made something for a few pennies that will never be redeemed. Why do you think the post office encourages collectors? Every stamp not used is greater profit than one that is.
[/QUOTE]
I did say “if they want dollar coins to be used”.
If they just want to make a quick buck (heh) with collectible gewgaws, they should rename themselves the Franklin Mint.
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### Author:  [@MovingTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovingTarget)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/11 "2007-02-15T14:00:38Z")
Yep, my thoughts exactly. I personally hate all of these “special” edition stupid ass coins. The state quarters, the Sac dollar, now the president dollars. Just a way for them to make more money when nobody redeems them. Damn good marketing strategy though, have to give them props for that.
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### Author:  [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/12 "2007-02-15T14:02:02Z")
Washington looks like he wants to eat my liver with fava beans and a nice Chianti.
It’s a no-win situation with him, though. In life, he did not look much like the Gilbert Stuart (correct me if I’m wrong) portrait of him. AIUI, the artist was accustomed to portraying aristocrats, and couldn’t reconcile Washington, who was really more of a jock than a prep, with that. So he softened the lines of his face quite a bit, and gave the hint of a smile to a man who rarely smiled. But nowadays, if George is portrayed the way he really looked, people cry heresy.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/13 "2007-02-15T14:02:08Z")
[Link](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17162680/).
> [@](#):
>
> New $1 coin the first to feature a president
That’s a bit misleading. I can think of the Roosevelt dime and the Kennedy half-dollar and the Jefferson nickel. But from the context of the article it seems they’re saying that it’s the first President on a _dollar_ coin. Oops! There was the Eisenhower dollar from 1971 to 1978. Obviously they’re referring to the quarter-sized dollar. But the headline implies that there have been no Presidents on U.S. coins before, and that the new $1 coin will be the first.
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/14 "2007-02-15T14:10:00Z")
Must come from having every bill look the same that you guys actually \*\*look \*\* at the coins. They could produce a dollar coin in Australia with John Howard giving GWB a blowjob and, because it would be the same size, shape and colour as the coins that are sans blowjob, I and many others would never notice.
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### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/15 "2007-02-15T14:11:02Z")
Yeah - I was stricken by the official statement expecting these to be “successful” as defined by “taken out of circulation.” Just seemed a little odd. Many people believe revamping our money system - including the possibility of dollar coins replacing bills - ought to be addressed somewhat more sriously than a desire to create collectibles.
I hope they look better in person than in that photo, cause those heads are butt ugly enough to serve as tails.
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/16 "2007-02-15T14:13:01Z")
I suggest they try putting a popular person on the coin for a change. The Marilyn Monroe Dollar could be very popular. Knowing the mint they’ld call it the Norma Jean Dollar, and use a profile instead of the flying skirt image, while making it the same size as a quarter.
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/17 "2007-02-15T14:16:42Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask]
Must come from having every bill look the same that you guys actually \*\*look \*\* at the coins. They could produce a dollar coin in Australia with John Howard giving GWB a blowjob and, because it would be the same size, shape and colour as the coins that are sans blowjob, I and many others would never notice.
[/QUOTE]
We look at coins so we don’t get stuck with Canadian coins, which are worth less than American coins, due to the exchange rate. I’d rather be able to stick in a dollar bill than a dollar coin, because I don’t like change in the pockets. The bill is in the wallet I have to carry with me anyways.
Who’s GWB? Bush?
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/18 "2007-02-15T14:30:59Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]
We look at coins so we don’t get stuck with Canadian coins, which are worth less than American coins, due to the exchange rate.
[/QUOTE]
We get that here, to a lesser extent, with pound coins from Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and other such esoteric places. These are worth the same as UK pounds in exchange-rate terms, but they are not generally accepted in shops – or at least not if the person on the till notices them.
Still, that’s what vending machines are for.
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### Author:  [@DrMemory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrMemory)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/19 "2007-02-15T14:48:26Z")
Ya mean I gotta wait 'til 2016 to get my Nixon coin? Oy… :smack:
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2007, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-digging-these-new-dollar-coins/392324/20 "2007-02-15T14:51:30Z")
Once the Clinton dollars come out, make sure you rush to the bank and pick up a few rolls.
Just in case you want to leave a deposit on a dress.
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