Getting the Public to Use Half Dollars and Dollars

What are your ideas on getting the public to widely use half dollar and
dollar coins in everyday transactions?

I think the following would work:

1. End production of Kennedy halves in 2004. The last year should have a
special date, 1964-2004. Starting in 2005, the half dollar would have a
portrait of Martin Luther King on the obverse. The words "United States
of America" would be in big letters above the portrait. The word
"Liberty" would be in smaller letters positioned on the obverse. On the
reverse, there would be the rendering of the Liberty Bell that was on
the reverse of the Franklin halves. Above the Liberty Bell would be the
words "Let Freedom Ring."

2. Starting in 2005, remove the portrait of Sacagawea from the dollar
coin. Replace it with a portrait of John F. Kennedy. The design of the
Kennedy dollar coin would have a new portrait. The reverse would remain
the same as the current Kennedy half.

We would then have MLK Halves and Kennedy Golden Dollars.

Changing the designs would only encourage hoarding by the public. It will
have no effect whatsoever on whether or not businesses order the coins to
use in regular transactions, which is an inherent cause of these coins NOT
circulating.




"Ami ." wrote in message
...
What are your ideas on getting the public to widely use half dollar and
dollar coins in everyday transactions?

I think the following would work:

1. End production of Kennedy halves in 2004. The last year should have a
special date, 1964-2004. Starting in 2005, the half dollar would have a
portrait of Martin Luther King on the obverse. The words "United States
of America" would be in big letters above the portrait. The word
"Liberty" would be in smaller letters positioned on the obverse. On the
reverse, there would be the rendering of the Liberty Bell that was on
the reverse of the Franklin halves. Above the Liberty Bell would be the
words "Let Freedom Ring."

2. Starting in 2005, remove the portrait of Sacagawea from the dollar
coin. Replace it with a portrait of John F. Kennedy. The design of the
Kennedy dollar coin would have a new portrait. The reverse would remain
the same as the current Kennedy half.

We would then have MLK Halves and Kennedy Golden Dollars.

Changing the designs would only encourage hoarding by the public. It
will have no effect whatsoever on whether or not businesses order the
coins to use in regular transactions, which is an inherent cause of
these coins NOT circulating.

Yes, I agree there would be initial hoarding, but that would taper off
in a year or so.

I think there would be lines of people at banks asking for Kennedy
Golden Dollars and MLK Halves, particularly in large urban cities. Banks
in those large urban cities would likely jump on board and support the
coins to keep their customers happy.

I think there would be lines of people at banks asking for Kennedy
Golden Dollars and MLK Halves, particularly in large urban cities. Banks
in those large urban cities would likely jump on board and support the
coins to keep their customers happy.


Remind you of the dollar coin rush in 2000?

Remind you of the dollar coin rush in 2000?

There was a dollar coin rush in 2000! People were making special trips
to Wal-Mart just to get golden dollars in change. The news media had a
field day.

There was a dollar coin rush in 2000! People were making special trips
to Wal-Mart just to get golden dollars in change. The news media had a
field day.


Exactly. And what has that done for the dollar coin in the long run?

Ami . wrote:
Changing the designs would only encourage hoarding by the public. It
will have no effect whatsoever on whether or not businesses order the
coins to use in regular transactions, which is an inherent cause of
these coins NOT circulating.

Yes, I agree there would be initial hoarding, but that would taper off
in a year or so.

I think there would be lines of people at banks asking for Kennedy
Golden Dollars and MLK Halves, particularly in large urban cities. Banks
in those large urban cities would likely jump on board and support the
coins to keep their customers happy.

John Q. public doesn't look at the designs on his coins when he receives
or spends them. Who or what is depicted on a particular coin has no
effect on whether the public will find that coin comfortable to use.
The half is dead. There are half dollars available if anyone wanted to
use them, but there are few vending machines that will accept them and
no one gives them in change anymore. Put Kennedy or King on a dollar
"token" and tons will sit in vaults just like the Sac's and SBA's.
People who especially admire MLK or JFK probably already have a picture
of them on the wall and that works just fine.

Bruce

About putting MLK on a coin or note: I don't mean to sound racist or anything,
but why do more for the black people? Here in Michigan, they took over Detroit,
and destroyed it and are starting to take over other areas as well. They are
the ones driving the expensive new cars, owning the new houses, collecting
welfare checks in ten or more different names. Yet they claim to still be so
mistreated. I can't believe some of them had the nerve to come on TV and say
"there aren't enough black people in hockey" when the Detroit Red Wings won the
Stanley Cup for the first time in over 40 years, yet every other sport
(basketball, football and baseball) are mostly black.

But know this, I have known good black people who were good friends, and there
are bad and good in ALL races. I just don't want anything going to the bad
people's heads.

As stupid as you people claim it is, why not put Balto on a coin or note after
dogs have served mankind for so long, yet shelters are gassing thousands of
good dogs, sentencing them to death when their only crime was, their stupid
human owners bred their parents without thinking of where to place them when
they were weaned from their parents? Now THAT is unfair. The problem is, most
people are stupid and seem to think humans are either the only speices on the
planet, or the only "important" speices on the planet. Dogs serve police,
firemen, military,etc. AND GET KILLED in the line of duty as well. Its not just
"people". And I don't see all of these poor coutries putting overpopulated
"people" in gas chambers, because it is sick, but why should it be looked at
any different for innocent dogs "and cats"?

Of course, many people are going to read this and think I'm out of my mind, but
as I stated above, its "human" ignorance.

One other thing I would like to say is I have NOTHING against MLK. I don't
think he wanted some of thing things to happen, that did. Such as black freedom
going to their heads. I think he wanted all men to be equal.

Tom

As stupid as you people claim it is, why not put Balto on a coin or
note after dogs have served mankind for so long, yet shelters are
gassing thousands of good dogs, sentencing them to death when their only
crime was, their stupid human owners bred their parents without thinking
of where to place them when they were weaned from their parents? Now
THAT is unfair. The problem is, most people are stupid and seem to think
humans are either the only speices on the planet, or the only
"important" speices on the planet.

Animals on coins are fine. The Buffalo nickel and dollar are well
regarded. However, I believe if animals are used on U.S. coins, the
design should be animals such as a buffalo, a lion, wolf, a bear, a
whale or other noble creature.

Putting dogs on coins would open a floodgate of dog lovers all wanting
their favorite breeds on the coins. The Chow Chow club would want their
favorite on a coin. Then the German Shephard organization would want a
coin. Then the Yorkie association, then the Poodle association etc. etc.

John Q. public doesn't look at the designs on his coins when he
receives or spends them. Who or what is depicted on a particular coin
has no effect on whether the public will find that coin comfortable to
use.

If the design doesn't matter, why is the state of Virginia kicking up
such a fuss over the design of nickels?