It's sad when a true numismatist tries to get rid of his Presidential Dollars as quickly as possible

Longacre

As numismatists, we should be trying to promote the use of coinage and circulating the coins currently in existence. This past weekend, the Longacre family took a trip to DC for Thanksgiving. On Friday, we decided to take the children to the National Archives to view the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights (as an aside, the museum is spectacular, and well worth the trip).

Rather than dealing with the DC traffic, I decided to show the kids how the hoi polloi travels, and we took the Metro. I felt comfortable with purchasing our Metrocards at the kiosk, rather than demanding personal service at the window.

I first tried to use my credit card, and then for some reason, I was only able to purchase two of the tickets (perhaps there is a limit). I kept trying to purchase the last tickets, but to no avail. My lovely mother in law's credit card, however, worked fine (not to get my blood boiling again, but how could any bank issue this lady a credit card when last July she screwed her creditors (including several credit card companies) out of close to a million dollars?)

For the next card, I put a $10 bill into the machine to pay the $5.60 fare. In change, I received four dollar coins-- one Sac from 2000, one of the Native American sac dollars, one Andrew Jackson, and one GW. Although the Native American dollar coin was really shiny and attractive, the others were dull and unattractive.

Unfortunately, I immediately put the coins back into the machine to get the next ticket. For some reason, I did not want to deal with the coins in my pocket all day long, and the hassle of trying to buy something with them. It was just easier to put them immediately back into the machine.

It is a sad state of affairs when a true numismatist tries to get rid of these coins as quickly as possible, rather than trying to circulate them more widely.

coinguy1

I'm not sure what any of the above (including the original poster, himself) has to do with a "true numismatist".

RYK

On Saturday, my son had three basketball games. I knew in advance that he would likely ask for a Power Bar at the concession stand between games. They cost $1.50. I scraped together five dimes to add to a rag dollar before leaving the house. It is probably the first time in several months that I used pocket change to make a purchase (and I was proud to do so). To me, circulating coinage, of any kind, is virtually obsolete for all denominations.

BillJones

Business strike coins are made to spend, not save. The coins that are saved and collected are the exception, not the rule.

Generally dollar coins have been unpopular for most of our nation's history. I've read that the early Bust dollars were not popular as circulating coins, and I suppose that assertion is supported by the fact we don’t see very many in these coins in the really low grades below Fine. Obviously all of the subsequent silver dollars and modern dollars have been unpopular as coins for circulation. The only exception was gold dollar which enjoyed some popularity before the Civil War. It provided a safe alternative to the privately issued bank currency, which was often of questionable value.

I don’t see a bright future for the modern dollars coins especially in light of the current threats of inflation. Dollar coins are bulky in quantity and weigh down one’s pockets. As a dedicated numismatist, I really don’t want to use them, and I’m not ashamed of that

Steve

<< <i>I'm not sure what any of the above (including the original poster, himself) has to do with a "true numismatist".


>>



Mark,
I assume you may not have been following Longacre on these boards while you were not posting here. Michael (Longacre) does provide interesting commentary and is certainly a "true numismatist" in my opinion.
Steve

adamlaneus

True Numismatist. Hmph.

A True Numismatist would have:
1) Purchased their Golden Dollars from the US Mint direct ship program.
2) Purchased their metro fare with those Golden Dollars
3) Had a special pouch for those Golden Dollars to keep them separate from the Hoi Palloi coins in your pocket.
4) Would have a special tool for easily opening paper wrappers of those direct ship coins.

Longacre

<< <i>

<< <i>I'm not sure what any of the above (including the original poster, himself) has to do with a "true numismatist".


>>



Mark,
I assume you may not have been following Longacre on these boards while you were not posting here. Michael (Longacre) does provide interesting commentary and is certainly a "true numismatist" in my opinion.
Steve >>





Steve-- Mr. Feld was just joking (as I am sure you know). Just in case, however, I will be sure to pop him in the chops the next time I see him.

19Lyds

<< <i>......................and the hassle of trying to buy something with them. >>



I've, personally, have never had any "hassles" spending Presidential Dollars but..................................... that $2 bill at Taco Bell was a real experience!

SeaEagleCoins

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>I'm not sure what any of the above (including the original poster, himself) has to do with a "true numismatist".


>>



Mark,
I assume you may not have been following Longacre on these boards while you were not posting here. Michael (Longacre) does provide interesting commentary and is certainly a "true numismatist" in my opinion.
Steve >>





Steve-- Mr. Feld was just joking (as I am sure you know). Just in case, however, I will be sure to pop him in the chops the next time I see him. >>




Yes, indeed... be sure to get Mark a soda "pop" and bring it to him... 'cause that's the only way yer ever gonna "pop" Mark

pocketpiececommems

Longacre, You did use the dollar coins for their intended purpose. The machine had a slot for them which most machines don't.

LindeDad

Did any of the "True Mumismatists" around here notice that those new dollars and the old large cents are close to the same size and and made mostly of the same material.

19Lyds

<< <i>Did any of the "True Mumismatists" around here notice that those new dollars and the old large cents are close to the same size and and made mostly of the same material.
>>



Does this mean that an enterprising fella could use Large Cents instead of the one dollar coin thereby saving himself .99 cents?

tahoe98

<< <i>Did any of the "True Mumismatists" around here notice that those new dollars and the old large cents are close to the same size and and made mostly of the same material.
>>




.....same size AND same buying power.

Walmann

Wouldn't a true numismatist have taken the family to see the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian instead?

TwoSides2aCoin

You can't be serious about having your children stand at a kiosk
"No soup for you" ( Seinfeld )

Elcontador

"Dollar coins" are widely used almost everywhere but here. In the 80s, England went to a pound coin, though the Scots insisted on having nothing to do with it. Argentina has a two peso coin (a peso is worth about 30 cents), and in Brasil, you rarely see a 1 real note anymore; people use the coin (a real is worth about 60 cents). In both Argentina and Brasil, people took to these coins quickly.

Maybe people don't like dollar coins here because most of the ones I've seen are whooped by the ugly stick.

pennyannie

I have over 400 rolls weighing down my safe. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Actually i am still buying rolls from the bank. I try to pick up between 10 and 20 rolls a week. It has satisfied my coin buying urge to some degree this year. If i put the money in the checking account the Mrs. would just spend it on curtains.

tbarreca

<< <i>

<< <i>Did any of the "True Mumismatists" around here notice that those new dollars and the old large cents are close to the same size and and made mostly of the same material.
>>



Does this mean that an enterprising fella could use Large Cents instead of the one dollar coin thereby saving himself .99 cents? >>





Thanks, I needed that, especially after the "would you sell to China" thread!

Gemineye

<< <i>Did any of the "True Mumismatists" around here notice that those new dollars and the old large cents are close to the same size and and made mostly of the same material.
>>


What the heck is a Mumismatist......Is that like smoene who studies mummies....

Buffalode

I received a dollar coin in change at a convenience store a couple of weeks ago. The clerk took the time to point it out to me, explain that it was a dollar coin, and ask if that was OK before handing it to me. She said she had been having a lot of customers who were reluctant to accept them because they really didn't know what they are. I am surprised that so many people don't even know anout them.

terribleredmonster

A note on the "hassle" of dollar coins: I have never once had a vending machine refuse a dollar coin. On the other hand I would estimate that one in four of my paper dollars are refused by machines the first time.

lcoopie

a true numismatist
considers dollars as coins
if they are made of gold or silver.

DUIGUY

<< <i>I'm not sure what any of the above (including the original poster, himself) has to do with a "true numismatist".


>>





HOOOWEEE!! DAT DER'S MEET ME AT DA THIRD TRAILER ON THE RIGHT, ON THE 4TH LANE ON NORTH ROAD SIDE,,, BRING YOUR LUNCH WORDS.

ProofArtworkonCircs

<<"Dollar coins" are widely used almost everywhere but here. >>

The Canadians and the English were not happy to see the new one dollar/pound coins. But with the elimination of the paper notes, what could they do? They seem content with the situation now. And they now have two dollar/pound coins.

ecichlid

People hate change. (pun intended)

Seriously though, anyone who tried to compare a dollar coin now to Bust dollar is missing a very important part of the equation. The dollar isn't worth nearly as much anymore. In addition, the modern coin is much smaller and less cumbersome to carry around. Also consider that a penny back then was worth more than a nickel is now. Want to stop weighing down your pockets? Drop the penny and the nickel!

MOST people who have done any significant travel to Canada or Europe get the whole point of dollar coins. What the government needs to do for the stupid people is to run a PR campaign promoting the dollar coins.

MaineJim

I have a bit of an addiction to coin roll hunting so I have a lot of chances to spend a ton of these "weird" coins. That is what the people around here call them when I spend them. I also have fun with the Ikes and Kennedys. The clerks tend to get confused when I mix them together with the presidentials given the odd size difference. I wouldn't say I try to get rid of them as quickly as possible but since I do usually need to pay for my next coin order the next day I spend them pretty fast.

Maine_Jim

mrpotatoheadd

<< <i>Dollar coins are bulky in quantity and weigh down one’s pockets. >>

There's no reason to ever have to carry more than four. Four coins = 32.4 grams- less than 1 1/4 ounces. Not that bulky, I'd think.

lcoopie

no,
you are a true numismatist

a true numismatist only collects MS70 moderns

messydesk

<< <i>no,
you are a true numismatist

a true numismatist only collects MS70 moderns >>


if they're bullion from the mystic orient.

A True Numismatist™ would pass out an information card on the basics of collecting Presidential dollars with every transaction that included one.

ricko

True numismatist?? Will we soon need pedigree's to prove ourselves worthy of commentary on the forum? Cheers, RickO

fc

<< <i>True numismatist?? Will we soon need pedigree's to prove ourselves worthy of commentary on the forum? Cheers, RickO >>



i opened this thread just so i could read what ricko said. he did not disappoint me!
well done sir.

MsMorrisine

a numismatist doesn't necessarily love every coin made.

sure, keeping them to spread would be a nice idea, but the unfortunate reality of size and weight makes them a pain to carry.


you reused them quickly after receiving them? eh. Business as usual with them.


Hmmmm... I guess as a person wanting the spread the idea of the dollar coin, I've got a bad attitude. However, the Mint can't escape the reality they are bulky. Try carrying 10 singles and 10 dollar coins. It's just not convenient and it is obvious there are a lot of coins in whatever pocket they are in.

TwoSides2aCoin

You'd feel a whole lot different if there were a gram of gold in each one, wouldn't you ?

nycounsel

What the government needs to do for the stupid people is to run a PR campaign promoting the dollar coins.

We've had several PR campaigns for the dollar coins, and the fact remains that people don't want them. Eliminating the dollar bill would force people to accept them, I guess, but given the option, it's pretty clear that people prefer the bill to the coin.

razzle

You could have been a real sport and threw one across the Potomac...sheeesh!

pf70collector

Still give them to the waitresses at the diner where I eat lunch daily. I will even probably use them to pay for my meals but haven't gotten around to searching my rolls yet from the mint. All in all have about 2K in dollar rolls which will eventually go into circulation. I have decided not to collect the series but like looking for possible errors. I will keep my 8 raw Washington Smoothies though.

MsMorrisine

<< <i>You could have been a real sport and threw one across the Potomac...sheeesh! >>




if he could stand at the edge of the Potomac in DC and throw one halfway across he'd would be superhuman.

ElKevvo

I received some of the various dollars via the Direct Ship and honestly enjoy spending them. I will admit it is tough....shiny new mint rolled coins are tough for me to part with but I have plenty of them each time I order so I keep one roll and spend the rest. I like seeing the looks on folks faces when I hand the coins to them and for a 6 dollars purchase say something like 'Good deal, here are 6 pieces of Federal Gold as payment." A lot of times folks look at the coins and will say they are going to keep them....they are just not used much in everyday transactions I guess!

I keep various good looking coins I get in change and I am nowhere near as much as a True Numismatist as Longacre!

K

500Bay

You spent the coins as soon as you got them - isn't that the point of the coins - to use them?

It should not matter that you spent them in a machine.

I have lost dollar coins in parking meters - that say they take dollar coins. I get the direct ship coins (just a few boxes a year), but to be honest I use plastic most of the time, rarely using cash (paper or coin).

DIMEMAN

A true numismatist would not even have any prez dollars!

jmski52

Order yourself $250 in new Native Dollars from the Mint and spend them. It's kinda fun pulling out some shiny new dollar coins and seeing how people react. Cheap entertainment, and the Mint sends them out postage-free.

Goldbully

I've been spending my $500 of 2001 Sacs all over the place.

Coffee house, Deli, supermarket, Target, Walgreens, fast food, you name it.

It's a ball and a half!!!

Free shipping from the Mint....what's not to like???

Silverstate

I collect Lincoln Cents and Pres Dollars. I spend all of them on a regular basis.

??????

Silverstate

<< <i>A true numismatist would not even have any prez dollars! >>



OUCH!

MsMorrisine

<< <i>Order yourself $250 in new Native Dollars from the Mint and spend them. It's kinda fun pulling out some shiny new dollar coins and seeing how people react. Cheap entertainment, and the Mint sends them out postage-free. >>



I was disappointed the other day when I paid with some 2010 Sacs.

The cashier saw the reverse first and was puzzled.

I had my hopes up that I'd get a question.

The she turned them over and said, "Oh, they're Sacs." She even used the term "Sacs" instead of Sacagawea.

Goldbully

<< <i>

<< <i>Order yourself $250 in new Native Dollars from the Mint and spend them. It's kinda fun pulling out some shiny new dollar coins and seeing how people react. Cheap entertainment, and the Mint sends them out postage-free. >>



I was disappointed the other day when I paid with some 2010 Sacs.

The cashier saw the reverse first and was puzzled.

I had my hopes up that I'd get a question.

The she turned them over and said, "Oh, they're Sacs." She even used the term "Sacs" instead of Sacagawea. >>



Didn't you mean 2001 Sacs???

jmski52

The she turned them over and said, "Oh, they're Sacs." She even used the term "Sacs" instead of Sacagawea.

Maybe she was thinking "1/2 oz. AGEs"

FredF

I was in Target yesterday, and the person in front of me had purchased items that totaled $15.16. He had $6 in paper and the remaining $9.16 he had in coins (mostly dimes, nickels, and pennies). Took forever to count it out, and what the cashier would do is count out a dollar and then punch that into the cash register to reduce the total outstanding. She got to the end, and got a $5 bill and a dime, nickel, and penny for the $0.16 but instead of keying in $5.16 into the cash register as payment, she keyed in $2.16. So the register said $3.00 left over. Rather than just keying in $3.00 and getting to a $0.00 balance she voided the entire thing out and put all the money back down on the counter to start counting again.

I changed lines. Felt guilty about it as well. In this case, it was the lack of skill of the cashier that was causing problems. Why can't people count any more? (she was slightly older, so it isn't a case of "them kids can't count.").

I had my items rung up, took about 45 seconds for that to happen, then swiped my credit card. Under $30 doesn't need a signature so I was out of there in about 75 seconds flat. The other folks were there for about 5-7 minutes buying their goods.

-Fred