# Where are all the Eisenhower dollars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540 "2009-04-01T03:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cgg419](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cgg419/32/2847_2.png) [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/21 "2009-04-01T17:15:14Z")
Well that’s exactly what I did do, so good for me 🆒 Seriously though, I just wish I would have saved one because not being an American, I may never come across one again ---
**Author:** ![fandango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5ac83/32.png) [@fandango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fandango)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/22 "2009-04-01T17:43:32Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > No you shouldn’t! That’s the whole reason dollar coins have never taken off in the US. What you should have done is gone out and spent them. The whole reason dollar coins have never taken off is because the $1 bill still circulates. I get the coins from the bank and spend them, but I know they go directly back to the bank. Stores don’t give them back because they think people are afraid of change (pun intended.) ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/23 "2009-04-01T18:23:08Z")
> [@fandango](#): > > The sad thing is that the government has spent millions advertising the existence of these coins and still people have no idea they exist. It would be sad if it weren’t the fourth attempt at introducing a dollar coin that Americans don’t want. At this point it is just silly. Anyone with half a brain knows that for dollar coins to take off, the paper bill has to be removed from circulation. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/24 "2009-04-01T19:12:16Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Anyone with half a brain knows that for dollar coins to take off, the paper bill has to be removed from circulation. But you can’t put dollar coins into a g-string. If they did away with paper dollars you’d have to go out and get two dollar bills, thus inviting an inflationary spiral caused by titty dancers having excess cash and fewer goods available. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/25 "2009-04-01T19:23:17Z")
I’ve got 20 that my grandpa gave me, which he saved from his Vegas trips (back when the slots gave you silver dollars). ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/26 "2009-04-01T19:38:32Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > I need to track one of those or a good Kennedy for my pregame coin flips as a ref. > > Those coins have _authority_. As a sports official for over 15 years from NCAA down to 10 & Under, I couldn’t agree more. Nothing irks me more when I’m working a game and my partner pulls out a penny or quarter for the coin toss. I should probably start another thread for this, but I think some people would be amazed at the different things I’ve seen for a coin toss… Among other things [ul] [li]A big novelty coin that was at least 6 inches across[/li][li]An umpire who brought out two pennies and while flipping them both asked the coach to say “even or odd”[/li][li]paper rock scissors - I’m not kidding[/li][li]assign a coach home team because he made it to the pregame first (OK, I can actually see this one, as it really chaps my hide when I’m calling for coaches and they dawdle around so much that the game will start late).[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/27 "2009-04-01T19:40:30Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > But you can’t put dollar coins into a g-string. If they did away with paper dollars you’d have to go out and get two dollar bills, thus inviting an inflationary spiral caused by titty dancers having excess cash and fewer goods available. 😃 I’m convinced this is the real reason America hasn’t gotten rid of the paper dollar. Although I have been to a place where, if you would ask for change for a $20, or if you took an advance on your credit card in cash… some of it would be in the form of ‘bar bucks.’ It was basically $1 voucher money to be used for tips, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/28 "2009-04-01T19:42:31Z")
> [@fandango](#): > > The whole reason dollar coins have never taken off is because the $1 bill still circulates. I get the coins from the bank and spend them, but I know they go directly back to the bank. Stores don’t give them back because they think people are afraid of change (pun intended.) It doesn’t help any that most vending machine don’t take them. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/29 "2009-04-01T19:56:59Z")
> [@cgg419](#): > > Hopefully this isn’t too much of a hijack, but until last June, I had no idea the US “gold” dollar coins, very similar to a Canadian loonie. Until I got my change from a vending machine at the Stratosphere hotel in Vegas and got back 3 dollar coins, I believe with George Washington on one side. I had almost the opposite experience. I used to live in Seattle and would visit Canada every 2-3 years. If I had any Canadian money left over on my way home, it wasn’t enough to bother with exchanging. I’d just put it in a drawer and try to remember to take it with me next time. So I was in Vancouver only a year or two after the loonie was introduced, and spent a one-dollar bill. The cashier said they didn’t see those much anymore. ---
**Author:** ![fandango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5ac83/32.png) [@fandango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fandango)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/30 "2009-04-01T20:03:48Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > It doesn’t help any that most vending machine don’t take them. Actually, I was suprised when I looked around that quite a few do take them these days–and you don’t have to try to feed them in two or three times before trying to flattening them out and then going around asking for change for an old wrinkled bill. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/31 "2009-04-01T20:59:18Z")
I have 35 of them in a bag-they are turning green (as the copper-nickel alloy corrodes). I have always wondered-could I spend these in a restaurant? Or can a business refuse to take them? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/32 "2009-04-01T21:18:33Z")
never mind ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/33 "2009-04-02T07:46:28Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > But you can’t put dollar coins into a g-string. Sure you can. It even makes the G-string sag a bit, maybe letting you see a bit more. And if enough coins go in there, it may just fall down entirely. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/34 "2009-04-02T17:01:07Z")
I was given a Golden Dollar by my High School at graduation, and I got one or two back as change years ago. And of course I have lots of Susan B. Anthony’s, and Eisenhowers, and JFK half-dollars. I come from a long line of hoarders. 🙂 I thought the new dollar coins were the ones that caused such a kerfluffle because “In God We Trust” was printed on the edge? Was there a re-design? ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/35 "2009-04-02T17:17:55Z")
This is somewhat off topic but is all U.S. currency ever made still legal tender? I have an 1874 dime can I legally spend it at a store. Could I spend 1885 silver dollars. I am discounting the silver content market value. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/36 "2009-04-02T17:34:49Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > BTW: How many people here are old enough to remember the bicentennial (1976) issue coins? Those have disappeared due to collecter’s value. I still run across these from time to time, although they are very uncommon. As for state quarters, I think people save the ones representing their home state. I get state quarters back in change nearly every single time, but I haven’t seen a California quarter in years. (And those pesky quarters like to jam parking meters, dang it…) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/37 "2009-04-02T17:37:28Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I have 35 of them in a bag-they are turning green (as the copper-nickel alloy corrodes). I have always wondered-could I spend these in a restaurant? Or can a business refuse to take them? Businesses can accept or refuse any payment they want. Legal tender applies to the settlement of debts, not offers to purchase goods. In a restaurant, though, if you’ve eaten the meal, you have incurred the debt, so the restaurant would be obliged to accept your coins as payment, under the US Coinage Act of 1965. (Cite: [Legal tender - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_tender#In_the_United_States) ) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/38 "2009-04-02T17:48:37Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > I’ve got three in my sock drawer. Socks not allowed at SDMB. You’ve got a whole drawer of them? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/39 "2009-04-03T01:27:53Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > This is somewhat off topic but is all U.S. currency ever made still legal tender? I have an 1874 dime can I legally spend it at a store. Could I spend 1885 silver dollars. I am discounting the silver content market value. Yep, it’s always gonna be legal tender. But, considering that your dime could be sold to a coin dealer or collector for $5-25, better not spend it. Your 1885 dollar will always be spendable, but we’re currently paying $13 and up for real silver dollars, pre-1936. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2009, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540/40 "2009-04-04T10:27:03Z")
The other day I was working at the cash register and noticed a dollar coin in the cash drawer. I asked the customer if he wanted a dollar coin in his change, but he refused. So much for trying to circulate them… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-eisenhower-dollars/491540.md?page=3)