[I never know the right way to title these things. I almost want to title the post w/ the premise, and then you are scratching your head trying to figure out what I am talking about - for a couple of screen's worth. But then it would be like 'Connections' in trying to figure out how what I am talking about relates to the Title].
Back in February, the latest attempt by the US Mint to release a Dollar coin - and get it accepted and used - started.
And in the space of a couple of weeks - it has had some major Quality Control issues.
What with some calling them the 'godless coin' because the phrase 'In God We Trust' is missing from the edge of these coins (that wasn't the only thing missing - so was the mint mark (that denotes the coin was struck in either Philly or Denver)).
And then there are the ones that apparently came out of Denver - missing anything on the front or back of the coin. But they got the edge info (the above missing 'In God We Trust' and the mint mark - hence knowing that they came out of Denver).
Why is the Mint fascinated by a Dollar coin? Well - based on the amount of money that the Mint has made on the State Quarters - they decided to take the next step. Make money? Yes - because the Mint is ahead of the game when people get these Quarters (and these Dollar coins), and just put them in piggy banks or coin albums. That money is affectively out of circulation. There is a term for it - but I just can't remember and/or find it at this point.
And there is always the debate that coins last longer than bills, but depending on the cost of metals - this isn't always true. The current surge in nickel (the raw material) prices actually means that the nickel's face value is less than the metals that are making it up (Remember - defacing - or melting US coins down - is still a crime).
I think the Mint needs to come up w/ a fancy slogan or term for the Dollar Coin. Because when everyone thinks of a Dollar - they think of a greenback (which is one of the few US bills that is still mostly green). The Canadian's were quite successful - I think it was unintended - by naming their 'dollar' coin the 'Looney' - based on the bird on the coin. And then they came out w/ a 2 'dollar' coin - which was termed a 'Tooney' (at least by my Canadian relatives - on my wife's side).
So what should we call this new US Dollar coin? How about the 'Geep'? Yeah - for 'Gold President'? Or should we give in to the call of our childhood, and call them Gold Pieces.... because the people in power now - are those of same people that enjoyed D&D when they were kids.
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