James A. Garfield to go on the $1 coin

I'm delighted by news that the US Mint is making another attempt at genuinely circulating $1 coins, and more pleased that there will be presidents on the coins, rather than scary Susan B., or Sacagawea and her papoose, Pomp.

The Mint is also planning a different approach in promoting the new coins. The plan is for a more bottom-up program, in which the goal is to get consumers excited about the coins, leading them to demand the dollar coins from banks, retailers and others.

With Sacagawea, the Mint tried a more top-down approach, in which banks and retailers were encouraged to use the coins to try to create a buzz among consumers.

Sounds like a plan to me. I've always gone out of my way, when getting money from the bank, to circulate half-dollars and dollars. Alas, I'm rarely able to scrape up more than a handful. If my bank were willing to stock the things, I'd take all my cash withdrawals in dollar coin form, just to circulate the things more effectively.

Comments

[J. C.]

I'll be glad to take dollar coins any time. Compared to the $1 tokens used in casinos, they'll probably prove more convenient. I hate having to traffic in ugly wrinkled dollar bills!