Talk:United States dollar/Coins

message: I think the Sacagawea Dollar image ought to be removed from the infobox and replaced with another coin, perhaps a quarter. Sacagawea dollars aren't used that much (at least, I hardly ever see them used) and, as such, are probably not the best choice of an image to illustrate the dollar. Thoughts? CapitalSasha ~ talk 22:55, 16 November 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I normally support the use of highest valued coin/banknote that is intended for general circulation. See the debate between me and Britcom. But I don't want to get into another debate right now. --ChoChoPK (球球PK) (talk | contrib) 11:49, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

text: Since the name of the article is "United States Dollar," showing a currently-circulating one dollar bill and a currently circulating one dollar coin is most appropriate (although it would be better to "balance out" the relative sizes of the images).  With the beginning of the release of Presidential dollars next year (through at least 2015), it might be best to anticipate an increase in popularity of the dollar coin and leave the picture of the Sacajawea obverse on the article page for the time being (according to the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005, one-third of the dollar coins issued during the program will maintain the current Sacajawea obverse, and the Sacajawea dollars will continue to be produced after the end of the Presidential dollars program). 147.70.242.40 19:07, 17 November 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Sacagawea Dollar Image 

message: No mention of this? - it was minted in 2000, and has an eagle on one side, and a Native American woman on the other side, with baby in papoose (I forget the name, someone who helped the Lewis & Clark expedition survive I think). - MPF 16:06, 27 Mar 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: Ah yes, the "golden dollar." Bears a likeness of Sacagawea. -- knoodelhed 05:26, 28 Mar 2004 (UTC)
thread_title: US $1 coin

message: Why is the $1 coin under 'rarely used'? I see them almost every day, both the new gold ones and the SB Anthony ones. (they're interchangable in machines, most notably MetroCard machines) X570 06:06, 29 December 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Besides metro, where else do you encounter them without specifically asking for them? What about grocery, lunch, shopping mall? --ChoChoPK (球球PK) (talk | contrib) 06:47, 29 December 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: US Post Office vending machines.192.91.171.42 21:04, 19 January 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: That's most likely the only, if not one of the few, example. --ChoChoPK (球球PK) (talk | contrib) 20:41, 20 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  $1 coin 

message: I've never heard "Gold dollar" or "Sackey" for the Sacagawea dollar, or "Suzy B" for the Susan B Anthony dollar, but I have heard "Silver Dollar" for both of those, despite the illogic, especially with the Sacagawea one.  Nik42 08:39, 6 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: When speaking with tellers, they would laugh in your face if you called either of the small dollars "silver". The "Silver Dollar" is the nickname of the Large Size only.  Everyone I have ever encountered knows what a "Suzy B." is.  They do get confused when you talk about the "Gold Dollar" but understand when you say "Golden Dollar".  "Sacky" is very common among the actual users and proponents of the coins.  TEG 14:44, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text:  FWIW, I have heard all of the above.  People's usage is often very imprecise.  I have also heard the Eisenhower dollars referred to as 'bowl' dollars.  Since I have only heard that in speach, I have no idea of the spelling or etymology.
As far as the Sacagawea dollar itself, I think it's best to just say "Sacagawea dollar" or "Sacagawea".  It's a tongue-twister for some (and many even dispute the Mint's spelling of "Sacagawea"), but it's more NPOV than "Sacky" (or even worse "Squawback" or "Squawbuck", as suggested in the Sacagawea dollar article), and avoids the metallic confusion of "golden dollar" (or worse, "silver dollar").
As far as the family, I think it's best to recall the difference between large cents and small cents; the silver and Eisenhower dollars together should be called "large dollars", while the Anthony, Sacagawea, and Presidential dollars should be called "small dollars".  --RBBrittain 14:51, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Dollar coin nicknames 

message: The Franklin Half Dollar was removed from the table because it was "no longer in circulation".  It was restored to the table because "it is still legal tender".
My understanding is that all U.S. coins, except the gold ones removed from circulation, are still legal tender.  If "legal tender" is the criteria, then almost all U.S. coins ever issued should be listed on the chart.
The chart says it is meant for "Contemporary Designs".  This raises the question of how recent a design must be to be "Contemporary".  On this question, I can only speak anecdotally.  The Franklin half dollar ceased production in 1963.  My wife has been a bank teller since 1989 and has never seen Franklin half dollar.
The next most recent coin that ceased production appears to be the Eisnenhower dollar.  It was in production until 1978.  It is still relatively common.  My wife sees these at her bank about once a month.
The Eisenhower dollar seems recent and common enough to keep in the chart.  However, the Franklin seems to be a rare coin, likely to be seen only by collectors.  Based on that, and its position as the coin with the oldest circulation date on the chart, it seems reasonable to remove it from a chart of "Contemporary Designs". --Seitz 06:54, 6 September 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: A few silver coins are in circulation.  I've run across a few silver dimes and 1 silver quarter since I started paying attention to that about a few months ago Nik42 21:35, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: But, by the same logic, Indian Head cents are still in circulation too.  I've found 2 in my lifetime, but this doesn't necessarily mean that are "in circulation". Circulation is being used here as a relative term meaning, more or less, "active circulation" and not fluke instances of a coin surfacing. --Kurthalomieu J. McCool 22:53, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: It seems to me that the criteria is, or should be, what coins/currency were still being made within the last year say. - Britcom 14:30, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

text: I wanted to add that U.S. gold coins are in fact legal tender, but at face value! If you want to spend any of those at face value, let me know; I'll be delighted to take them off your hands without any extra processing fee.--Orange Mike 19:24, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Franklin Half Dollar

message: I saw that this article only mentions statehood designs as the only reverse of the quarter. However, there are more than one: I have seen a bald eagle with an olive branch in its mouth reverse. Would this make the quarter a little more informative? FinalHeaven
:You might wanna look under Quarter (United States coin) for a more in depth article about quarters.  Joe I 20:13, 30 May 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Quarter reverses 

message: As most vending machines are incapable of making change in banknotes, they are frequently designed to give change in dollar coins and occasionally half-dollar coins.
I've never seen a vending maching give change in half-dollars, and have only heard of the Post Office's stamp dispensers giving change in dollar coins.  I'm revising that  Nik42 21:30, 9 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I have personally witnessed The United States Post Office vending machine dispensing dollar coins - Susan B. Anothony and Sachagiwa - as change if the amount of change meets or exceeds a dollar. Nuance13x 08:23, 10 May 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Half dollar coins are rarely used for change from machines.  However, many toll systems use them for change, especially on ferry systems like the Washington State Ferries. TEG 14:46, 11 November 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: Yeah, spitting those nasty gold-colored coins out of Post Office machines is the only way for them to get rid of them. -THB 08:09, 15 November 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Vending machines?