Ticket machines--using dollar coins or bills?

"Peter T. Daniels" wrote:

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

randee wrote:

Hmm, In the very few occasions I've used the machines when in the NYC
area I never noticed they would take dollar coins. Which style do they
take?

Any dated 1979 or later.

You think the commemorative dollar coins, still being minted, that match
the pre-SusieB/Sackie size would work in a vending machine?

Let's not be facetious here, any $1 coin struck for normal business
circulation by the USMint dated 1979 or later will work in those
machines. This includes all SBAs dated 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1999 and
all Sacs dated 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

(cross-posted to rec.collecting.coins)

--
___________________________________________ ____ _______________
Regards, | |\ ____
| | | | |\
Michael G. Koerner May they | | | | | | rise again!
Appleton, Wisconsin USA | | | | | |
___________________________________________ | | | | | | _______________

Stephen Sprunk wrote:

"Jeff nor Lisa" wrote in message
om...
Michael Finfer wrote

Coins are always more reliable than currency. The vending machine
industry has never been able to get its equipment to work as well with
currency as with coins.

A vending machine owner told me that the currency readers
are adjustable as to the reject rate. Someone told me SEPTA's
railroad ticket machines (most now removed) were set at high
sensitivity and thus rejected a lot of bills, getting psgrs upset.

I've had trouble with vending machines rejecting certain coins at
times.

Dirty, sticky, and dented coins, I've often had problems with. However, one
can clean usually them and they can stay in circulation for decades with a
low reject rate. Bills, on the other hand, are pretty much shot after a few
months of active use or years of light use and get swapped out by banks
pretty quickly. Since they have a lower manufacturing cost ($5 per 1000
bills, according to DoT), the cost of frequent swap-outs is minimal.

Dollar coins are disliked by banks because the banks must pay face value to
get them from the US Mint, whereas the Federal Reserve will issue bills to
banks based on bookkeeping entries (and at a tiny fraction of face value).
Until one of those policies changes, dollar (and larger) coins will never be
more than a novelty in the US, and poor support at coin-operated machines
(even ones that claim to take them) will not improve.

(OT drift response) You are only partly correct.

Banknotes in the USA are just fancy pieces of printed security paper
until they are officially 'issued' by the Federal Reserve. They are
then sold into the banking system at face value to be circulated until
they wear out (varies from an average of about 1-1.5 years for $1s up to
about 8-10 years for $50s and $100s). They are then 'withdrawn' from
circulation by the Fed, once again becoming fancy, albeit now worn out,
pieces of printed security paper (which are then quickly shredded) and
'replaced' with newly issued notes of the same total face value. These
have to balance to avoid inflationary/deflationary effects. The Federal
Reserve receives the unissued notes from the USTreasury, Bureau of
Engraving and Printing, I am unsure if the Fed buys them or if they are
printed at Federal taxpayer expense.

Thus, replacing worn out banknotes is a direct COST onto the economy.

Coins, OTOH, are on the Federal books at their full face value the
instant that the dies begin to seperate from them in the USMint's
coining presses, to be sold into the banking system and then into
circulation. The difference between the total cost of making the coins
and their face value is called 'seigniorage' (a GREAT spelling-bee
word!), normally an asset/profit to the USTreasury. Coins (except
'Pennies') that are unfit to be returned to circulation are sent back to
the USMint for melting.

Right now, $1 coins cost about 12¢ each to make (for an 88¢ USTreasury
seigniorage profit) for a normal average circulatiion life of about 30
years (coins from the 1960s are still very common in circulation, check
your pocket), while $1 banknotes on average live no more than about
12-18 months. Having to replace a $1 note about 20-30 times in the
average lifetime of a single coin is VERY EXPENSIVE, when you figure
that several BILLION $1 notes are printed every year.

(crossposted to rec.collecting.coins)

--
___________________________________________ ____ _______________
Regards, | |\ ____
| | | | |\
Michael G. Koerner May they | | | | | | rise again!
Appleton, Wisconsin USA | | | | | |
___________________________________________ | | | | | | _______________

Jeff nor Lisa wrote:

"Stephen Sprunk" wrote


I spend $2 bills everywhere I can, mainly because I enjoy confusing
cashiers. It's amazing how many of them have never seen one, though they'll
still typically take them after looking at the bills closely. Even the ones
that have seen them get a little confused (or annoyed) because there's no
place for them in the cash drawer, and it screws up their count-out at the
end of the shift.

I avoid using and spending such odd denominations for the very
same reason--it is not standard and makes their day tougher.

I try to avoid using $1 coins in food vending machines because it
confuses the person who has to count it up. (Sometimes it is
unavoidable.)

The vending operator just empties the coin box into a bag, which is then
dumped into an automatic sorter/counter at his office or bank. They all
dive right in. Coins are more convenient than banknotes here due to
that ease of machine sorting and counting while unless the bank is
realllly big enough to afford an expensive enough banknote machine, the
notes have to at least be hand sorted/faced.

Transit system ticket vending machines are an exception because
their sales may exceed even $10 so they can put out $1 coins
as change to say a $20 bill. Bus fares in Phila and NYC are
$2.00 which fits coins well.

I've seen toll machines that give them in change, too. Five downtown
parking ramps here in Appleton, WI ($1 or 2 to enter based on
time-of-day, park as long as one wants) have toll machines that take
banknotes up to $20 and use $1 coins for making change. I have also
seen similar machines at some METRA parking lots in suburban Chicago.

CTA ticket machines and turnstyles also accept $1 coins.

(crossposted to rec.collecting.coins)

--
___________________________________________ ____ _______________
Regards, | |\ ____
| | | | |\
Michael G. Koerner May they | | | | | | rise again!
Appleton, Wisconsin USA | | | | | |
___________________________________________ | | | | | | _______________

"Jeff nor Lisa" wrote in message
om...
Michael Finfer wrote

Coins are always more reliable than currency. The vending
machine industry has never been able to get its equipment to
work as well with currency as with coins.

A vending machine owner told me that the currency readers
are adjustable as to the reject rate. Someone told me SEPTA's
railroad ticket machines (most now removed) were set at high
sensitivity and thus rejected a lot of bills, getting psgrs
upset.

They must be set for high sensitivity for coins as well--I used one at
Trenton last week and had to get $20 worth of dollar coins out of the
changer to get seven that would work in the ticket vendor (which is not
updated to accept redesigned bills).

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

"Peter T. Daniels" wrote:

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

randee wrote:

Hmm, In the very few occasions I've used the machines when in the NYC
area I never noticed they would take dollar coins. Which style do they
take?

Any dated 1979 or later.

You think the commemorative dollar coins, still being minted, that match
the pre-SusieB/Sackie size would work in a vending machine?

Let's not be facetious here, any $1 coin struck for normal business
circulation by the USMint dated 1979 or later will work in those
machines. This includes all SBAs dated 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1999 and
all Sacs dated 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

(cross-posted to rec.collecting.coins)

So not only is your .sig idiotic, your assertion was a lie.

--
___________________________________________ ____ _______________
Regards, | |\ ____
| | | | |\
Michael G. Koerner May they | | | | | | rise again!
Appleton, Wisconsin USA | | | | | |
___________________________________________ | | | | | | _______________

--
Peter T. Daniels

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

Right now, $1 coins cost about 12¢ each to make (for an 88¢ USTreasury
seigniorage profit) for a normal average circulatiion life of about 30
years (coins from the 1960s are still very common in circulation, check
your pocket),

There are no $1 coins from the 1960s in circulation.
--
Peter T. Daniels

"Peter T. Daniels" wrote:

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

"Peter T. Daniels" wrote:

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

randee wrote:

Hmm, In the very few occasions I've used the machines when in the NYC
area I never noticed they would take dollar coins. Which style do they
take?

Any dated 1979 or later.

You think the commemorative dollar coins, still being minted, that match
the pre-SusieB/Sackie size would work in a vending machine?

Let's not be facetious here, any $1 coin struck for normal business
circulation by the USMint dated 1979 or later will work in those
machines. This includes all SBAs dated 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1999 and
all Sacs dated 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

(cross-posted to rec.collecting.coins)

So not only is your .sig idiotic, your assertion was a lie.

Before going too far down that road, be aware that many, if not most,
vending machines do have an internal switch that enables them to accept
the SBA and Sacagewea dollars. They are identical in size and
electro-magnetic signature.

Any machine enabled by the service person will accept the business
strike SBA and Sacs.

Alan
'most have the switch in the off position'

Alan Williams wrote:

"Peter T. Daniels" wrote:

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

"Peter T. Daniels" wrote:

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

randee wrote:

Hmm, In the very few occasions I've used the machines when in the NYC
area I never noticed they would take dollar coins. Which style do they
take?

Any dated 1979 or later.

You think the commemorative dollar coins, still being minted, that match
the pre-SusieB/Sackie size would work in a vending machine?

Let's not be facetious here, any $1 coin struck for normal business
circulation by the USMint dated 1979 or later will work in those
machines. This includes all SBAs dated 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1999 and
all Sacs dated 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

(cross-posted to rec.collecting.coins)

So not only is your .sig idiotic, your assertion was a lie.

Before going too far down that road, be aware that many, if not most,
vending machines do have an internal switch that enables them to accept
the SBA and Sacagewea dollars. They are identical in size and
electro-magnetic signature.

Any machine enabled by the service person will accept the business
strike SBA and Sacs.

He said that vending machines take _"any"_ dollars "dated 1979 or
later." Including Eisenhower-size ones.

He's a troll living in Wisconsin who presumes to tell New Yorkers to
reerect some of the ugliest buildings ever erected anywhere. And he
persists in doing so years after the replacement plans were adopted and
months after construction began.
--
Peter T. Daniels

Here is some change mechanism information/links. It's simple to 'flip the switch'.

No ironing required to use dollar coins (vs. rag-dollars)

For Coinco snack machines type changer:
http://www.coinco.com/coin/faq/servi...als/920859.pdf
Cliff's notes version: if changer has 3 switches turn on switch C.

For Coinco soda machine type changer:
http://www.coinco.com/coin/faq/servi...als/909570.pdf
Cliff's notes version: if changer has 12 switches, turn on switch 10.



For Mars machines
http://www.meiglobal.com/MEIGlobal/USA/En/Products/

-Fred Shecter

--
"""Remove "zorch" from address (2 places) to reply.
"Alan Williams" wrote in message
...
"Peter T. Daniels" wrote:

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

"Peter T. Daniels" wrote:

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

randee wrote:

Hmm, In the very few occasions I've used the machines when in the NYC
area I never noticed they would take dollar coins. Which style do they
take?

Any dated 1979 or later.

You think the commemorative dollar coins, still being minted, that match
the pre-SusieB/Sackie size would work in a vending machine?

Let's not be facetious here, any $1 coin struck for normal business
circulation by the USMint dated 1979 or later will work in those
machines. This includes all SBAs dated 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1999 and
all Sacs dated 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

(cross-posted to rec.collecting.coins)

So not only is your .sig idiotic, your assertion was a lie.

Before going too far down that road, be aware that many, if not most,
vending machines do have an internal switch that enables them to accept
the SBA and Sacagewea dollars. They are identical in size and
electro-magnetic signature.

Any machine enabled by the service person will accept the business
strike SBA and Sacs.

Alan
'most have the switch in the off position'

Large sized dollar coins are not the "current" circulating dollar coin of the USA.
Eisenhower dollars are still worth a dollar, but are considered "uncurrent" and when
returned to the Federal Reserve by banks or armored carriers, they are sent back to the
mint for melt-down.

Actual Silver dollars (I'm assuming those are the commemorative dollars mentioned) cost
the buyer *way* more than a dollar each, are not intended to be used in circulation and no
vending machines are designed to use/accept them.

So, when most people use the term "dollar coins" in the context of spending them as
regular money, they are talking about the (allegedly) easily available dollar coins
(SBA/Sacagawea Golden Dollar).

Spending commemoratives is not wise. I would not hand a $50 gold piece to a cashier.


By the way, I grew up on Long Island and traveled into NYC as often as possible. There was
always something fun to do or see. I used SBA dollars in 1979 and 1980 on the toll bridges
when I was there. I've lived in the Los Angeles area since 1980. they recently got
commuter rail here and the fare machines accept and dispense dollar coins - the 'regular'
kind (SBA/GD).

-Fred Shecter

--
"""Remove "zorch" from address (2 places) to reply.
"Peter T. Daniels" wrote in message
...
Alan Williams wrote:

"Peter T. Daniels" wrote:

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

"Peter T. Daniels" wrote:

Michael G. Koerner wrote:

randee wrote:

Hmm, In the very few occasions I've used the machines when in the NYC
area I never noticed they would take dollar coins. Which style do they
take?

Any dated 1979 or later.

You think the commemorative dollar coins, still being minted, that match
the pre-SusieB/Sackie size would work in a vending machine?

Let's not be facetious here, any $1 coin struck for normal business
circulation by the USMint dated 1979 or later will work in those
machines. This includes all SBAs dated 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1999 and
all Sacs dated 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

(cross-posted to rec.collecting.coins)

So not only is your .sig idiotic, your assertion was a lie.

Before going too far down that road, be aware that many, if not most,
vending machines do have an internal switch that enables them to accept
the SBA and Sacagewea dollars. They are identical in size and
electro-magnetic signature.

Any machine enabled by the service person will accept the business
strike SBA and Sacs.

He said that vending machines take _"any"_ dollars "dated 1979 or
later." Including Eisenhower-size ones.

He's a troll living in Wisconsin who presumes to tell New Yorkers to
reerect some of the ugliest buildings ever erected anywhere. And he
persists in doing so years after the replacement plans were adopted and
months after construction began.
--
Peter T. Daniels