# The Great Dollar Bill debate **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 21, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131 "2004-07-21T03:41:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/61 "2004-07-21T21:18:08Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > They have $2 coins in Canada – the “double-looney,” I think it’s called. The “tooney”, actually. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/62 "2004-07-21T21:33:22Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > The “tooney”, actually. 😛 That puts “fin” and “sawbuck” to shame! Why can’t our money have cool names? ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/63 "2004-07-21T21:44:13Z")
I like the All-Founder Era idea. It minimizes the “politics” of currency while giving us a chance to honor some of the people that don’t get nearly enough press. .01 - John Jay .05 - Alexander Hamilton .10 - John Adams .25 - Thomas Jefferson 1.00 - George Washington 5.00 - John Marshall 10.00 - Abigail Adams 20.00 - James Madison 50.00 - Gouverneur Morris 100.00 - Benjamin Franklin Any objections to that? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/64 "2004-07-21T21:56:40Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > They have $2 coins in Canada – the “double-looney,” I think it’s called. The $1 coin is called a “looney” because it has a picture of a loon on the reverse; the obverse, of course, bears a portrait of the queen, just like every other coin and bill, which simplifies things, I guess. Goodie for them… But what is the PURPOSE of a $2 coin? What’s the point? Why have one? What advantages does it give you over 2 $1 coins? WHY? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/65 "2004-07-21T22:20:04Z")
> [@](#): > > **Zagadka** said: > But what is the PURPOSE of a $2 coin? What’s the point? Why have one? What advantages does it give you over 2 $1 coins? If you’re absolutely forced to carry coins, the less of 'em you have to carry the better off you are. Personally, I’d hate to see the US eliminate the 1$ note. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/66 "2004-07-21T22:53:16Z")
> [@Andros\_X](#): > > Yeah, I meant paper money. > > Anyway, my revised money chart: > > .05 – Grace Hopper (smart, black, and female) Are you talking about Captain Grace Murray Hopper, the early computer expert? No way she was black, unless you mean like 1/254th black. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/67 "2004-07-21T22:58:24Z")
> [@Zagadka](#): > > Goodie for them… > > But what is the PURPOSE of a $2 coin? What’s the point? Why have one? What advantages does it give you over 2 $1 coins? > > WHY? 🙂 I’m guessing you’ve never worked a cash register or it’s been a long time since you have. Think for a bit. Let’s say I go to the ATM and get out a $20 dollar bill and I buy something that costs six bucks from you. Would you rather give me four single bills and a ten. two $2 bills and a ten. Two $2 coins and a ten four $1 coins and a ten. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/68 "2004-07-21T23:02:58Z")
> [@Zagadka](#): > > Goodie for them… > > But what is the PURPOSE of a $2 coin? What’s the point? Why have one? What advantages does it give you over 2 $1 coins? > > WHY? 🙂 But what is the PURPOSE of a dime? What’s the point? Why have one? What advantages does it give you over 2 nickels? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/69 "2004-07-21T23:41:40Z")
I have always thought that US currency should show historical places rather than people. You’d have to go quite far on the extreme wings on the left or the right to object to the Liberty Bell. How about a bill which shows the coast of California? The Alamo? (OK, Mexico may not like it.) The Kennedy Space Center. Plymouth Rock? The White House? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/70 "2004-07-22T00:44:23Z")
> [@NotMrKnowItAll](#): > > Here’s my nominations: > > Alexander Graham Bell. While born in Scotland, his invention of the telephone happened after he moved to the US. His inclusion would give a tip-o-the-hat to the “Land of Opportunity.” FYI, Canada would likely consider this a minor [declaration](http://bell.uccb.ns.ca/) of [cultural war](http://www.bellhomestead.ca/) ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/71 "2004-07-22T02:03:55Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I’m guessing you’ve never worked a cash register or it’s been a long time since you have. …Would you rather give me … > > Two $2 coins and a ten > > four $1 coins and a ten. I have done retail, and I’d rather give you four $1 coins and a ten. It is faster and easier to grab 4 coins from the same pile than it is to grab 2 coins each from 2 piles. THere is also less room for error; you can easily count 4 of something, but if you have 2 of one thing and 2 of another that are similar, you have to pay attention; I’d rather just drop the coins one at a time and know “there are 4 coins, so this is 4 dollars” > [@Yookeroo](#): > > But what is the PURPOSE of a dime? What’s the point? Why have one? What advantages does it give you over 2 nickels? This may seem similar on the surgace, but that isn’t how money steps itself. We block it into units of 5 with 1s to make up the change. As I mentioend above, having 1 set of 1 is easier than 2 sets of 2. Gonna start pressing for a 2 cent piece now, too? It’d make fewer coins getting .69 change back, but know what? It’d be a pain in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/72 "2004-07-22T02:25:05Z")
I remember an episode of _The West Wing_ where the White House staffers were trying to think of a reason not to discontinue the penny. (I mean, what can you buy with a penny? A chiclet from a gum machine? And couldn’t change be rounded to the nearest nickel? Who would mind?) They finally came up a reason, but I forget what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/73 "2004-07-22T03:31:27Z")
**Zagadka** , Don’t forget, the Canadian dollar is worth less than the American dollar. This means that hardly anything costs less than a dollar there while a large amount of things fall into that odd dollar and change price category. This makes a two dollar coin more convenient for a lot of purchases. As far as actual buying power goes, a Loony is more akin to an American half dollar than to an American dollar. (I know the loony is worth more than 50 US cents, I’m just going for an approximate analogy as far as practical convenience) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/74 "2004-07-22T03:45:48Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > But what is the PURPOSE of a dime? What’s the point? Why have one? What advantages does it give you over 2 nickels? In a pinch, it can be used as a screwdriver. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/75 "2004-07-22T03:57:16Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > Well, in that case, what about Groucho on the $1, Chico on the $5, Harpo on the $10 and possibly Zeppo on the $20? > [@Ravenman](#): > > … and two hard boiled eggs on the $50? > [@HPL](#): > > And one duck egg. 😕 Sorry, don’t get it – but I haven’t seen all the Marx Bros. flicks. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/76 "2004-07-22T04:13:42Z")
[Savings bonds images](http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov/mar/marartbonds.htm), to give you an idea who gets on stuff when no one is paying attention. MLK is on the $100 I bond, Einstein on the $1000 I bond. They followed an “all founding fathers’” theme for the EE bond. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/77 "2004-07-22T04:26:58Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > So? Benjamin Franklin is on the $100 bill, but he never held national public office. (He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and to the Constitutional Convention, but those were not, strictly speaking, offices.) Actually, he was Minister to France (and to England, I believe), and as such was crucially important to getting international recognition and support to the young republic. For those of you suggesting Grant should be eliminated, I would agree if the issue were only his service as President, but if you add in his command of the U.S. military forces in the Civil War, he’s as deserving of recognition as most of the other incumbents and proposed new faces. Similarly, if you add Eisenhower’s command of the European forces in WWII to his presidency, he is clearly one of the most significant 20th Century Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/78 "2004-07-22T05:09:47Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😛 That puts “fin” and “sawbuck” to shame! Why can’t our money have cool names? Well you can have cool names or money thats worth something Choose 🙂 Declan ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/79 "2004-07-22T05:18:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 😕 Sorry, don’t get it – but I haven’t seen all the Marx Bros. flicks. Check out “Night at the Opera”, specfically the famous “Stateroom Scene”. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131/80 "2004-07-22T06:32:27Z")
Random comments- Isn’t Sacagawea a person of color AKA “c_l_r\*d person” (a term I find archaic but not really perjorative)? And how can one dislike the S coin? It has a baby too! For the Grant haters, I suggest keeping him BUT adding another figure on the bill- either Lee (maybe the pic of Grant & Lee at Richmond) OR in a ghostly image behind Grant, Samuel Clemens (I didn’t know till this past month that SLC has ghosted USG’s autobiography). I want a Great Seal Coin so I could make a cool Illuminati or American Israel medallion of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-dollar-bill-debate/256131.md?page=5)