We’re getting a new dollar coin
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The U.S. Mint is hoping that Martin Van Buren and Millard Fillmore can do what Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea couldn’t - get Americans to use dollar coins.
The Mint on Monday revealed the design of the new U.S. $1 coin, which will be issued in a series that will eventually include the faces of each U.S. president.
It will release four new presidential dollars each year, starting with George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 2007. The Van Buren dollar will be released in 2008 and the Fillmore in 2010.
Apparently the new idea is “hey, let’s do it like the 50 state quarters!” Unfortunately, that means they’ve abandoned the “let’s honor a woman on our money for once” idea.
Now, the Susan B. Anthony dollar failed because it was too much like a quarter (and because Susan B. Anthony was too female). The Sacagawea dollar failed because they didn’t make enough of them and the coin collectors snatched them all up before they could get into general circulation (and because Sacagawea was too Native American as well as too female).
So, pray tell me, what is their brilliant design strategy for this coin?
The presidential dollar coin will be similar in size and color to the Sacagawea, but will bear no inscription on the obverse or face side. “In God We Trust,” “E Pluribus Unum,” the issue year and the mint mark will appear on the edge.
Yes, that’s right… on the edge, where they won’t even be readable in a matter of, what, years? Months? Good job, geniuses. On the other hand, this introduces intriguing possibilities for those who think “In God We Trust” doesn’t belong on our money. 
Posted Monday, November 20th, 2006
Tags: News