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A Sac and a Lincoln Cent.

keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
I was just going through some change on the kitchen table from the past week, picking out quarters for the laundramat, and I came across a 1944 Lincoln Cent that still had color and luster in the protected areas around the devices and lettering. Probably a child who got into daddy's coins, not valuable by any standard but neat to find in change.

Yesterday I was in the checkout line at a local "Dollar" type store and I paid with some Sac Dollars. The early 20's cashier seemed as though she'd never seen one before and really liked it. The loder gentleman behind me in line remarked that "in Canada there are no paper dollars" in use anymore. Man, if Canada can do that it must not be difficult!!

Al H.image

Comments

  • sumnomsumnom Posts: 5,963 ✭✭✭
    Why can't we follow Canada.....
  • TUMUSSTUMUSS Posts: 2,207
    I have not been to Canada for about 10 years...but there were LOTS of paper dollars at that time. I think if they really do not have paper ones circulating anymore...I would have to believe that it was not the "peoples" decision.

    God knows I love coins...but if I had to carry twenty dollars in one dollar increments all day I'd rather have a bulging wallet than a heavy pocket.
  • wam98wam98 Posts: 2,685
    I was going through some Lincoln cents the other day, to help with the collecting bug. I was kinda shocked at what I found from circulation. First, there was a 1964 Memorial, brand new looking. It was as good, if not better than the cents in my mint set. Then, I found a 1970 D that had three full and two partial columns of the reverse Lincoln Memorial on the obverse in front and behind Lincolns head. Put aside a 1999 cent that has mirrored fields. First impression, was that someone had broken up a 99 proof set. Then a thread I read here on the forum about other people finding proof like lincolns in circulation, clarrified that.

    Some Lincolns that I could not find were 1961, 1962,& 1963 P mint cents. 1991 D were scarce and also some of the S mint cents. When I returned the $25 worth of cents to the bank, I dropped by the local coin shop and picked up two each of the 61,62,& 63's. When I asked for them, the owner looked at me sort of funny, knowing that I collect Morgans. He just gave them to me. image

    As someone once stated here on the forum, Aahh, the grassroots of collecting, finding collectable coins from circulation. Well, I need a new pair of glasses now. image

    Bet there is a good market for suspenders in Canada, carrying around those dollar coins. image
    Wayne
    ******
  • sumnomsumnom Posts: 5,963 ✭✭✭
    tumuss,

    There are no one or two dollar bills in Canada. They use one and two dollar coins instead. It's great. Has there ever been a time when you have twenty one dollar bills in your wallet? I rarely have more than four or five.
  • CoinHuskerCoinHusker Posts: 5,030 ✭✭✭
    A few weeks ago I got a letter from a Dawn R. Haley, Chief Office of External Relations at the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing in response to a letter I had written to President Bush on this very subject. In the letter she states,

    "The Department of the Treasury opposes elimination of the $1 note in favor of a $1 coin; however, arguments surrounding this proposal ae continually monitored. It is the opinion of the Department that both can co-exist."

    And she goes on to describe the hardship the change over to a $1 coin exclusively would cause the retail and banking industries as well as the immediate increase in cost to taxpayers to do the changeover. image

    Needless to say, with that kind of mindset embedded in the beaurocratic mind it ain't never gonna happen. image
    Collecting coins, medals and currency featuring "The Sower"


  • << <i>Why can't we follow Canada..... >>





    Because they're Socialists and will ruin our medical system......







    Oh sorry - this isn't the Open Forum - Nevermind imageimage


  • << <i>It is the opinion of the Department that both can co-exist >>


    This is true, they can co-exist. The paper will exist in circulation and have to be replaced every 12 to 18 months, and the coins will exist in storage vaults with monthly storage costs accruing. What they can't do is co-circulate.



    << <i>the hardship the change over to a $1 coin exclusively would cause the retail and banking industries as well as the immediate increase in cost to taxpayers to do the changeover >>


    I wonder how long it takes before the cost to taxpayers for the constant replacement of the paper plus storage for the coins becomes higher than any one time cost (which can be spread over at least an 18month period) to the retail and banking industry.

    Cost to the taxpayers to do the changeover is zero or even negative. Instead of making dollar bills they make twos, no change in cost. In fact fewer twos than ones will be needed so costs actually decrease. And the equipment for the dollar coins is already there the only new cost would be for planchets but every one struck pays for itself and then some so cost here is also negative. Eventually the number of dollar coins needed will decline because the coins don't wear out so cost will continue to decline.
  • I believe that to get the dollar coins to circulate they need to come up with something that makes it
    readily identifiable and interesting too, It has to be something people like to use. Maybe some kind of a patriotic message or commemerative like message, etc.
    For, what 100 years or so, paper money became popular because it was convenient, easy to carry, doesn't dissolve in water easily, etc.
    Everyone got into the habit.

    Look what happened to 2 dollar bills. Everyone just hated them. Others considered them bad luck. Ad infintum.
    I used to love to get them at the bank and spend them.
    I still remember running into people that refused to accept them because they were bad luck. image

    The problem right now is we have a half that is bigger than a dollar, we need to make a coin like the SAC as a half and then have a little larger one that is the dollar.
    image
  • My dad writes our congressman and senators about this all the time and he never hears anything back from them.
    What Mr. Spock would say about numismatics...
    image... "Fascinating, but not logical"

    "Live long and prosper"

    My "How I Started" columns
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I believe that to get the dollar coins to circulate they need to come up with something that makes it
    readily identifiable and interesting too


    ............and the above may well be the biggest misconception that us in the collector community perceive with regard to the Sac Dollar!!!!!!!! i have yet to spend one---and i do it often, just did it today---without the recipient looking at the coin and making some kind of a noise or positive statement about them. apparently the only people that don't find them interesting are collectors and though most of the general populace doesn't know what they areat first, they are easily recognized since they are bigger than a quarter and a different color.

    there is a reason why they aren't used, it's called The BEP and the whole thing is purely political in nature. that's why the post by condor makes so much sense.

    al h.image


  • << <i>i have yet to spend one---and i do it often, just did it today---without the recipient looking at the coin and making some kind of a noise or positive statement about them. >>



    Well, I won't say I get a positive reaction from golden dollars every time, but the vast majority of people to whom I give them think they're pretty cool. Many have never seen one (that they can recall) and most of those familiar with the golden dollars, like them.

    A significant number do hoard them, but it's a win-win situation. Either I'm helping familiarize people with what is (by far) the most attractive current US circulating coin, or I'm piquing the interest of potential future collectors.
    My coins can beat up your coins.
  • CoinHuskerCoinHusker Posts: 5,030 ✭✭✭
    Keets & Conder101,

    I agree but what can be done? I've found writing letters to elected officials useless. They may check it out but then they get the "official" poop from the BEP and that's the end of that. But I'd like to try and find a way to make some inroads in changing the beaurocractic mindset about this. The public wouldn't rebel at the changover as much as they like to think and the banks and the retail industries like money...period whether it folds or clanks. Any suggestions?

    BTW, this gal, Dawn R. Haley at the BEP ends her letter saying,

    "Your correspondence ot the President contained a lot of detailed information and it is obvious that you gave your suggestion a great deal of thought. Please note, however, that the lifespan of the $1 US paper currency note is 22 months.. For your review, I am enclosing a fact sheet entitled,'Dollar Points' which discusses the symbolism behind the American paper dollar. I trust the information is helpful to you."

    In other words, "forget about it!" image
    Collecting coins, medals and currency featuring "The Sower"

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