US Dollar Coin

From Yahoo:
"Congress looks at doing away with the $1 bill"

American consumers have shown about as much appetite for the $1 coin as kids do their spinach. They may not know what's best for them either. Congressional auditors say doing away with dollar bills entirely and replacing them with dollar coins could save taxpayers some $4.4 billion over the next 30 years. Vending machine operators have long championed the use of $1 coins because they don't jam the machines, cutting down on repair costs and lost sales. But most people don't seem to like carrying them. In the past five years, the U.S. Mint has produced 2.4 billion Presidential $1 coins. Most are stored by the Federal Reserve, and production was suspended about a year ago. The last time the government made major metallurgical changes in U.S. coins was nearly 50 years ago when Congress directed the Mint to remove silver from dimes and quarters and to reduce its content in half dollar coins. Now, Congress is looking at new changes in response to rising prices for copper and nickel. But over the years, the savings would begin to accrue, she said, largely because a $1 coin could stay in circulation for 30 years while paper bills have to be replaced every four or five years on average. Even the $1 coin's most ardent supporters recognize that they haven't been popular. Philip Diehl, former director of the Mint, said there was a huge demand for the Sacagawea dollar coin when production began in 2001, but as time wore on, people stayed with what they knew best.

^ This seems like the never-endng saga in Congress and the Mint. They should just realize that the numerous times they have tried to force the $1 coin on Americans the majority have rejected it. Just move on already. It may work in Canada and other countrie, but the US is not like other countries in many respects. The government tried to force us to change to the Metric system in the 1970s, but Americans stood their ground. I think the same thing will happen should the government try again to force us to use $1 coins. I personally hate using change and try not to every chance I can. I was in Canada last July and got the $1 and $2 coins and would use them to pay for things so I could get rid of them quickly. The coins may last longer, but a currency is only as valuable as the people who agree to use it. There are many in the Eurozone that want to do away with the 1 and 2 Euro coins and make them bills and the Euro keeps falling. I'm not saying that it solely due to people not wanting to use coins, but it could be a very small reason. In the end; if something isn't broke -don't try and fix it. The $1 bill is working and used around the world and should be left alone.  ^

http://news.yahoo.com/congress-looks-doing-away-1-bill-083418974--politics.html