Does the U.S. Mint release a limited quantity of new coins (meaning those with new designs) to certain companies before the official public release dates? I'm wondering how do vending machine companies and self-checkout machine manufacturers adjust their machines? Don't they have to "test out" the new coins?
I don't have the specific answers to your questions but not since Sacagawea "Golden Dollars" came out in 2000 have companies had to adjust their machines to accept a new coin. The minting of those started in November 1999; businesses were no doubt given the opportunity to update the mechanisms and/or microchips in their machines to accept them in advance of the public release of them in January 2000.
I believe the machines are adjustable by size and weight making the design of the coin irrelevant. In the service, we would use Korean 100 won coins instead of quarters in U.S. Coke machines...same weight and size. I've read where presentation pieces are sometimes given to members of Congress who sponsor the legislation.
They did do so back in the early 20th century with the mercury dime and buffalo nickel, but in general they don't. They might use planchets of new compositions or pieces with "nonsense" designs but not actual coins/patterns. The last major "pre-release" were the 2000 Sac dollars and cents provided to General Mills so they could have them packaged in their cereal and ready for release on Jan 1, 2000. There have been a few accidental early releases. I recall a proof set that was put in the wrong box and accidently shipped out before the start of the year, and there were some 2000 state quarters that accidently got mixed into some 1999 SBA dollar bags. Also during the state quarter era the mint would ship boxes of quarters to the Federal Reserve before their release dates andthe Fed would ship same to the banks labeled NOT TO BE RELEASED BEFORE XX/XX/XXXX, but the banks still released them early. I acquired a roll of NC quarters almost two weeks before their release date because of that.
I work in an industry that deals with coin and currency accepters. As for coins, the mint may release data on the dimensions, weight and metallurgy to manufactures. As for currency notes, no. My opinion is the mint really doesn't care and it's the manufactures responsibility to upgrade or modify their equipment to accurately accept them. After all, just because a new coin or note is released, there are still plenty of the old ones out there for the customer to use.
I have a few canadian test tokens. These were of a generic or unofficial design and given out to test new compositions for machines.
yea i would think new coins with new designs all have the exact size and weight as the coin(s) that came before them.
