i still want to know about these harry potter coins, and i feel downright disgusted that i’ve been ignored for three days, when i was inquiring about such a monumental horror.
I don’t think anyone knows anything about Harry Potter coins, and no one wants to feel stupid by saying it’s true (couldn’t be, could it?) or by denying it (because we really wouldn’t anything past bureaucracy).
I sincerely hope that Max the Immortal was abusing sarcasm with the Harry Potter thing.
Actually, UncleBeer, the program apparently makes money hand over fist. The new quarters have proven wildly popular among both existing and new coin collectors, recruiting people who never really thought about it before. A certain percentage of these folks will purchase “proof” and “uncirculated” sets of coins, which are enormously profitable to the Mint. For further info, take a click here.
Doing it this way doesn’t make you smarter. Pay attention here: When Canada went to the Loonie (and later the Twoonie) almost all vending machines were retrofitted or had change machines attached to them before or at the same time that the coin was introduced. Sure, a few basement machines were behind the times, but I’m willing to bet that will be the case in the US too. The dime and nickel thing is a seperate case - it wasn’t forseen by the mint as a problem. In any case its a lot less inconvenient having a few bum dimes than a pocket full of useless Sacagawea’s.
I still think it makes no sense to phase out the bill slowly - it just means that every time you have a dollar coin you can’t use a vending machine, and every time you have a dollar bill you can’t get on public transit, if I understand rightly. It is also building up animosity toward the coin - much like the Susan B. Anthony. When the old Canadian $1 bill was removed, we were left with no choice but to accept the coin.
Just wait for it to be issued as Liberian (or Micronesian) “valid legal tender.” 
jrd
First of all,
That’s probably the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time! I’m still snickering about it 10 minutes later. Thanks!
Now, about the different US state quarters: I am amazed at the number of people collecting these things. My SIL even has the book to keep them in. She asks, “Do you know how much those quarters will be worth in 50 years?” and I say, “Oh, about 25 cents each??”
[and that’s my micro-rant for the day–brought to you by the letter Zed]
Thank you for hitting upon one of my pet peeves. It makes me nuts when people insist that you should pull all the commemoratives out of circulation, assuming that they’ll be worth a lot in the future. Consider the Bicentennial coins in the U.S.: the Mint spent the years of 1975 and 1976 striking these things, and their mintage runs still outnumber all other years’ to date. There are too many of them for them to be scarse! Furthermore, since so many have been pulled out of circulation, finding one in good condition is no problem. I remember seeing Bicentennial Eisenhower dollars on sale at a flea market for $3.00! Caveat emptor…
The same holds true for the state quarters that the Mint is striking right now. Me, I’m all for it, and yes, I have an album which I’ve been filling as the coins come along. But hell, I have no illusions that they’ll be worth vast amounts of cash one day. All the collectors will only serve to diminish the possibility of their accruing value. The only reason to do this is because it’s fun, not because you expect great riches. If that’s what you’re after, call a stock broker. Anyone who expects to get rich collecting coins is insane. Just have fun with it! I’ve been collecting coins for most of my life, and I’m not rich yet!
Whew! I’m surprised that rant was in me! Well, I’ve gotten that out of my system. Sorry for any inconvenience. Carry on.