CNN/Money wrote:
The U.S. Mint is hoping that Martin Van Buren and Millard Fillmore can do what Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea couldn't - get Americans to use dollar coins.
It will release four new presidential dollars each year, starting with George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 2007. The Van Buren dollar will be released in 2008 and the Fillmore in 2010.
[...]
The Mint is hoping the continually changing faces will entice consumers to break their traditional reluctance to use dollar coins.
"We think Americans are going to want to collect the series, and that will drive the coins through the economy," said U.S. Mint Director Edmund Moy.
He hopes to avoid the fate of the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which was issued in 1979-81 and again in 1999 to honor the women's sufferage pioneer. But due to its size and silver color, it was too easily confused with a quarter and is now largely distributed as change from mass transit system ticket machines.
The gold color Sacagawea dollar followed in 2000, showing the Native American guide to 1804 explorers Merriwether Lewis and William Clark and her infant son.
But limited Sacagawea quantities led to too many being stashed away by collectors, reducing circulation and thus familiarity, said Rod Gillis, head of education at the American Numismatic Association in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The presidential dollar coin will be similar in size and color to the Sacagawea, but will bear no inscription on the obverse or face side. "In God We Trust," "E Pluribus Unum," the issue year and the mint mark will appear on the edge.
It will release four new presidential dollars each year, starting with George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 2007. The Van Buren dollar will be released in 2008 and the Fillmore in 2010.
[...]
The Mint is hoping the continually changing faces will entice consumers to break their traditional reluctance to use dollar coins.
"We think Americans are going to want to collect the series, and that will drive the coins through the economy," said U.S. Mint Director Edmund Moy.
He hopes to avoid the fate of the Susan B. Anthony dollar, which was issued in 1979-81 and again in 1999 to honor the women's sufferage pioneer. But due to its size and silver color, it was too easily confused with a quarter and is now largely distributed as change from mass transit system ticket machines.
The gold color Sacagawea dollar followed in 2000, showing the Native American guide to 1804 explorers Merriwether Lewis and William Clark and her infant son.
But limited Sacagawea quantities led to too many being stashed away by collectors, reducing circulation and thus familiarity, said Rod Gillis, head of education at the American Numismatic Association in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The presidential dollar coin will be similar in size and color to the Sacagawea, but will bear no inscription on the obverse or face side. "In God We Trust," "E Pluribus Unum," the issue year and the mint mark will appear on the edge.
And I don't buy the "limited quantities of Sacagawea coins" bit. I still get those things by the handful as change at the post office. Businesses just don't ask for them from the bank because the customers look at the coin like you just handed them a ****. Which, after the gold coloring wears off, is pretty much what the coin resembles.
On the plus side, shiney gold Sacegawea coins make great "tooth fairy" leavings under the pillow.
