United States Mint Seeks Public Comment on Factors to be Considered in Research and Evaluation of Potential New Metallic Coinage Materials: http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=1219 I realize that Canada will be doing this soon, but this will be a huge change in the US impacting many facets of society. Feel free to post your thoughts here first. TC
Im all for it, if it can save the government money. Still would like to see the $1 paper bill ditched along with the penny.
Canada has had more success than I had figured, changing theit nickels to plated steel. I thought for sure there would be a rust problem like the U.S. had with the '43 cent. I realize it wouyld mean retooling vending machines once again, but we could use Canada's vending machine mechanisms as well. Cents could go to copper plated aluminum, or better yet, stop making them. Ireally do not see a problem with the other denominations as of now.
I would say get rid of the Nickel or Dime and 1 dollar coins. Since it only costs like 5/6 cents to make a dollar bill I would keep it..
"These factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of new metallic coinage materials on the current suppliers of coinage materials..." In other words they already know that the stupid penny should be dropped and the nickel made of aluminum but they aren't going to do it because Jardin wouldn't like it and it just might upset the status quo. This isn't so much public comment as it is they want an excuse to make nickels out of zinc too no matter how many babies might die.
Got an idea, make the nickel a similar composition of the golden dollar (costs 7.74 cents to make) and thinner; 4 grams vice 5. Cost per coin: 3.825 cents per coin. Also, use more zinc, manganese, and 0 nickel (50% copper, 35% zinc, 15% manganese,) make it cheaper for us coin collectors to buy coins, making it somewhere in the ballpark of 2.5 cents per coin. That's doable. Toss out the penny, the dollar bill, and add a toonie just like the Canadians
Just keep things the way they are, why mess with what works. We would still be using 90% silver coins if the government hadn't created so much inflation.
Inflation is not created by governments only. And no country in the world issues silver circulation coins. Christian
Personally, the $1 note has become obsolete, especially with the manufacture of the Sac and Presidential dollar coins. Ditch one or the other, I'm in favor the dollar note. Follow Canada's suit of one and two dollar denomination coins, Loonies and Twonies. Removing the dimes, nickels, and pennies would not be feasible because of the pricing in our commerce depending on those fractions of a dollar.
I completely agree with the last part. However, I'd rather see the nickel go to nickel-plated steel if possible; the coins will be cheaper, but will not look different. Keep in mind that whatever we use will need to work in vending machines.
Aw Heck, they've already got it figured out what they're (mint) gonna do. Just a condesending inquiry for public opinion. And how many of the "public" visit the mint web site? If they were truly sincere at illiciting public opinion they would post this request for "public opinion" in something that the general public reads/listens to....... newspapers, radio & TV.
This is what I sent To whom it may concern, Coinage materials should be: 1. NON TOXIC and leave no toxic residue - children can ingest multiple times, bank tellers handle frequently 2.Antibacterial/anti fungal/resist transmission of germs 3.Withstand the elements of the geographic area in which the coinage is to be used and the test of time. Also, no more paper dollar. Help the public want to use the dollar coin and two dollar bill. Thanks for your time,
Shucks make the penny out of copper colored plastic make everyone happy. Make the Nickel out of Aluminum Clad with NI The quarter should be the same composition of the nickel Toss the 50 Cent Piece Make the Dollar coin out of pure copper