Guys, I was just thinking. If I could, by some miracle, get someone in Congress interested in supporting the minting of my "Famous Dogs Half Dollar Coin Act" (which is highly unlikely, but I'm trying to keep an open mind here) with the smaller, thicker, copper colored, nonagon shape I have some questions that I was curious about. One question was, I remember reading about the Treasury wanting to melt down the Susan B. Anthoy dollars at one time, and I hear that the Federal Reserve currently has at least a 10 year supply of the current larger halves, so I was wondering, could I put in the legislation, that the Treasury is to render the large Kennedy halves obsolete, and melt them down to use the metal from them for the first batch of Famous Dogs small halves? Or would the nickel in the cupronickel outer layers on the Kennedy halves make a silver metal when melted down? Would it matter if the Famous Dogs Halves were a silver colored coin? I mean, even with just a polygon shape with sides, and being thicker than all other U.S. coins would be enough, as long as the coins were made thin enough to still fit in vending machine and self checkout machine slots, which is what I want. And finally, would retooling vending machines and self checkout machines be a big hassle and cost for those companies? I mean, I did call one self checkout company anout making their machines accept and dispense the current large half and the $2 bill, and he quoted one to two million dollars to "entertain" the idea, as I have already said. But maybe, with a smaller half, the retooling and reprogramming for a new, small half would be cheaper. A pity you wouldn't be able to put that big of, or as nice of a picture on an almost nickel/quarter -sizeed coin than you would, on the current half. Hey, do you think if this idea ever did pass, people would hoard large halves, like they did with Ikes? I really think that the public would dig a smaller, more distinguishible coin that is lighter than a quarter vs. the old half which almost weighs as much as two quarters, that has twice the purchasing power of the quarter. And hey, if people are not willing to carry a dollar coin, maybe the idea with circulating halves would help cut the problem with $1 bills wearing out too fast, but as I said, I am going to promote the $2 bill as well when, or if my business succeeds. Both of these denominations will help stop $1 bills from wearing out so quickly, and maybe we Americans can hold off on the dollar coin a little while longer. Sorry about bringing up similar topics, but I wanted to know if the current supply of large halves could be recycled into metals for my new proposed small halves and what color that metal would be (Silver or copper?)
"Famous Dogs Half Dollar Coin Act"? I have no idea what you are referring to and as such, stopped reading after the first paragraph.
I actually saw a couple of words in the second paragraph and was wondering why anyone would want to melt down Susan B's.
This is LONG so be prepared! [FONT=arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=black][COLOR=black][FONT=arial][FONT=arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=black]SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE This Act may be cited as the "Famous Dogs Half Dollar Coin Act" SEC 2. DESIGN AND ISSUANCE OF HALF DOLLAR COINS FEATURING FAMOUS DOGS OF U.S. HISTORY (a) Notwithstanding the Authority of the Secretary of the Treasury under the 8th undesignated paragraph of section 16 of the Federal Reserve Act, beginning in 2013, coins in the denomination of 50 cents, shall be redesigned, and have such designs, and shall be in such form and tenor as the Secretary may select in accordance with this section. (b) These new "Famous Dogs" half dollar coins shall be reduced in size, made in between the size of the nickel and quarter dollar coins, nonagon in shape, copper in color, thicker than all other U.S. coins to be distinguishable enough by touch for the blind and visually impaired, and those working in poorly lit places, and while these coins shall be thicker than all other U.S. coins currently in circulation, they shall be made thin enough to work in vending machines and self checkout machines without having to modify the coin changer machines to take larger coins. The reduction in size also has to do with saving the government money on using less metals to produce these new half dollars, and the argument the general public has, with coins being too heavy, and the fact that current half dollar weighs almost as much as two quarter dollars. (c) The "Famous Dogs Half Dollar Coin Act" shall be a 9 year program that shall feature four new obverses of the half dollar coin, honoring four different famous dogs per year, to honor dogs for serving man kind for tens of thousands of years, and shall honor and feature such fallen dogs as, fire, police, rescue, military and sled dogs who served or lost their lives, serving man kind, with Balto being the first to be honored. Each honored dog's name and breed, and the words "In God We Trust" shall be stamped into the obverse of these new half dollars, and shall border around the bottom of the "heads" side of these new coins. If the famous dog being honored is not a purebred "Mixed Breed" shall be stamped on the border of the coin. (d) The reverse of the new half dollars shall feature three different designs per every three years of the program. The Gray Wolf shall be featured on the reverse of these new half dollars for the first three years, to respect and honor the wild relatives that these dogs came from. And for wolves being the first dogs to serve man kind. "Gray Wolf" and "Half Dollar" shall be stamped on the bottom of the new coins and border the edge of the "tails" side of these new half dollar coins. (e) The Coyote shall be featured on the reverse of these new half dollars for the second three years. This will help honor another wild dog relative that provided fur for clothing, bones for tools and jewelry and such to the Native Americans and were a part of Native American agriculture. "Coyote" and "Half Dollar" shall be stamped into the reverse of these new half dollar coins, and shall border the bottom edge of the "tails" side of these new half dollar coins. (f) And the North American Red Fox shall be featured on the reverse of these new half dollars for the last three years. This will help us honor and respect foxes as a dog relative that, like the Coyote, contributed to the Native Americans, providing fur for clothing, bones for tools, jewelry and such and were a part of Native American agriculture. "North American Red Fox" and "Half Dollar" shall be stamped on the reverse of these new half dollars and shall border the bottom edge of such coins. (g) These new half dollar coins shall NOT include or feature dogs, that were famous for being in movies/shows/films, or for being a famous celebrity or presidential pet, etc. The "Famous Dogs Half Dollar Coin Act" shall only honor dogs that were true life serving, life saving, real life heroes, with the exception of the wild dog ancestors of the dogs being featured on the reverse of such coins. SEC 3. MELTING AND RECYCLING OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S CURRENT SUPPLY OF THE CURRENT LARGE SIZE KENNEDY HALF DOLLAR COINS TO USE THE METALS FOR THE "FAMOUS DOGS HALF DOLLAR COIN ACT" All supplies of the older large sized half dollar coins featuring President John F. Kennedy held within the Federal Reserve shall be melted and recycled into copper colored metal for the smaller Famous Dogs half dollars, and to avoid confusion of having two different size half dollar coins in circulation. SEC 4. PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM (a) Within a certain time, the general public, vending, self checkout and other coin-op industries shall be made aware of the new Famous Dogs Half Dollar Coins' release date. Vendors and other industries shall be given time to retool their machines to accept the new "Famous Dogs" half dollar coins, should they choose to do so. Public educational information materials shall also be provided to educate businesses, cashiers and consumers about the new half dollar coins. SEC 5. REVERTING TO A PERMANENT DESIGN After the "Famous Dogs" half dollar coin program ends, the "post-Famous Dogs" half dollar coin shall keep the same size, shape and composition as the "Famous Dogs" half dollar coins, but shall revert back to a modified John F. Kennedy half dollar design, unless a new design is otherwise legislated. TITLE II--REDESIGNED $2 FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES SEC 1. REDESIGN OF THE $2 FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE TO CONFORM NEXGEN SERIES WITH FEATURES TO ASSIST THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED (a) The $2 Federal Reserve note shall be redesigned to feature an enlarged portrait of President Thomas Jefferson, a security thread that reads "USA 2" down the strip that will also glow a certain color under ultraviolet light, two watermarks, one of a large numeral "2" to Jefferson's right, and a watermark to the left of Jefferson's portrait of three spellings of the word "TWO" in the same three spots as the watermark of the three smaller numeral "5s" are located on the new NEXGEN $5 note as opposed to a water mark of three small numeral "2s" to help people denominate the new $2 note from the new $5 note, a splash of bluish-green including a bluish-green opened scroll to President Jefferson's right to represent "Liberty" in the form of the Declaration of Independence, small clusters of little numeral "02s" on the front and or back, and a low-vision numeral dark blue in color and in between the size of the old non-colorized $5 note's smaller low-vision numeral, and the new $5 note's large purple low-vision numeral. These new $2 notes shall be first placed into circulation in mid 2012. SEC 2. REASONS FOR THE REDESIGN The main reason for the redesign of the $2 Federal Reserve note, is to help those with visual impairments denominate the note, with features such as the enlarged portrait of President Thomas Jefferson on the obverse, and the large, dark numeral 2 on the reverse of the redesigned $2 note. And a lesser concern, but somewhat valid concern would also be, to help modernize U.S. currency, as well. SEC 3. PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM (a) Due to the fact that many Americans do not believe $2 notes are even in print anymore, and some have never seen a U.S. $2 note, public education materials shall be provided to teach cashiers consumers and help vendor and self checkout companies retool to accept the new $2 notes. TITLE III--ISSUANCE OF A $200 AND REISSUE OF THE $500 AND $1,000 FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES SEC 1. ISSUANCE OF A $200 FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE (a) President Theodore Roosevelt's portrait shall be featured on the obverse these new $200 notes. An image of Mount Rushmore shall adorn the reverse of these $200 Federal Reserve notes. A copper colored low-vision numeral positioned in the same way as the golden low-vision numeral "100" on the new $100 note shall be featured on these new $200 notes, as will other necessary security features for such a large denomination banknote. These new $200 notes shall be issued in the spring of 2013. SEC 2. REISSUE OF THE $500 FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE (a) President William McKinley's portrait shall continue to adorn the obverse of these new $500 notes. The oval with the huge numeral "500" design from the 1928/1934/1934A series shall be retained in these new $500 notes. A silver colored low-vision numeral positioned the same way as the new golden numeral "100" on the new $100 note shall be featured on these new $500 notes, as will other necessary security features for such a large denomination banknote. These new $500 notes shall be issued in the fall of 2013. SEC 3. REISSUE OF THE $ 1,000 FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE (a) President Grover Cleveland's portrait shall continue to adorn the obverse of these new $1,000 notes. The fancy text "The United States of America" and "One Thousand Dollars" design from the 1928/1934/1934A series shall be retained in these new $1,000 notes. A multi-colored low-vision numeral $1,000 containing a comma shall positioned on the reverse of the new $1,000 notes the same way as the large golden numeral "100" on the new $100 note, and the numeral "1" and the comma shall be copper colored, the two middle zeros shall be golden colored, and the last zero shall be silver on this low-vision 1,000 for extra security features, as will other necessary security features be featured on such a large denomination banknote. These new $1,000 notes shall be issued in the spring of 2014. SEC 4. PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM The American public, businesses and retailers shall be made aware of these new large denomination Federal Reserve notes as they are issued and businesses will be given a chance to upgrade their machines to take such denominations of U.S. currency. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [/FONT][/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
This would never happen as our currency is reserved for POTUS' for the most part with the exception of the some of the larger denominations of curreny, i.e., $1000 and larger, which are not printed anymore that I know of. I mean really, why would anyone want rin tin tin on the obverse of the half dollar?
Then, what are Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin and Salmon P.Chase doing on our coins and currency? Actually, four of those five large denominations, which are no longer in print ($500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 and $100,000) had Presidents on them. $500: Willian McKinley, $1,000: Grover Cleveland, $5,000: James Madison, $100,000: Woodrow Wilson, while the only bill with the non-Presisident no longer in circulation, is the $10,000 bill, which featured Salmon P. Chase. Likely the same people who like seeing the buffalo and bald eagle on our coins and currency, and its not like the "Famous Dog's" program would be permanent. Just a 9-year program to spark intrest into, and try to revive the half dollar coin. Oh, and by the way, IF you had read the legislation clearly, you would see that Rin Tin Tin is disqualified from the Famous Dogs Half Dollar Coin Act: (g) These new half dollar coins shall NOT include or feature dogs, that were famous for being in movies/shows/films, or for being a famous celebrity or presidential pet, etc. The "Famous Dogs Half Dollar Coin Act" shall only honor dogs that were true life serving, life saving, real life heroes, with the exception of the wild dog ancestors of the dogs being featured on the reverse of such coins. And also, after all of the dogs kill shelters kill off each year and after all dogs have done for man kind, I believe that a secelect few of the most famous police, fire, military, rescue and sled dogs that gave their lives serving man kind, some of the most known famous dogs of U.S. history should be honored on a few half dollar coins of a series. After killing some many perfectly healthy dogs (I know they kill a lot of cats too, but there aren't too many famous hero cats people know of, and cats are not known as popularly as "Man's Best Friend") and puppies, in kill shelters every year, and yet, still using dogs to serve man kind and all of the foxes, wolves and coyotes that were killed by humans for both, human needs and human wants such as furs, and in some cases meats and other things, humanity could stand to give them an honor such as the Famous Dogs Half Dollar Coin Act. After all, if the typical non-famous, random bald eagle, buffalo (as well as the owl and spider on the $1 bill) can get such recognition for doing nothing, with the exception of the bald eagle being a national symbol (which ain't crap, in my opinion, compared to the symbolization of what life saving dogs like Balto did) why can't the U.S. do a small tribute, mainly as a collector issue, but also to breathe some life back into the 50 cent denomination for about 9 years while also getting man kind to appreciate dogs for serving us and being loyal companions that are there for us? Don't worry. We can put Kennedy back on the half after the Famous Dogs program if you want. Or maybe even a NEW President.
This is a bit unrelated but what is a NIFC? I saw people talking about them in roll searchers posts nd it regards half dollars.
Dogs and Coins Drago: No offence, but the "famous dogs" design sounds pretty ridiculous. I'm pretty sure that most people would feel that way, as well. I, and most coin collectors, prefer that beings depicted on coins not be based on real specific animals (such as Lady Liberty instead of presidents, etc.). The Birds of Canada series of banknotes was probably the closest to your idea, but, again, it depicts generic birds of a certain species, not famous birds. I just don't think that design proposition would be taken seriously by anyone. However, I have to give you respect for recognizing the value to humans of our dog-friends, and for what they've done for us, and for the holocaust of the 7,000,000+ dogs murdered each year in the United States, simply because they are unwanted. Spay and neuter until we get the population of kill shelters to zero. Adopt a pet-friend rather than buying one. Your local SPCA and Pound can help you learn more and find a friend right for you. I thank you for doing so, and, if they could, I'm sure domesticated species would thank you humans.
This country has been "going to the dogs" ever since the gas rationing of the early 70's. Why add fuel to the fire? Chris
I only know of a very few famous dogs: Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, and Nathan's. A lot of work for so few coins, don't you think? Ya wanna start a vendin' machine business but ya don't wanna use the coin of the realm? Good luck wit dat! How many times ya gotta be told the mule's dead before you stop beatin' it, boy?
Since the public practically doesn't use the half, I wouldn't be completely opposed to a redesign of a smaller version, though I think the size is fine now. After all, it's the same size as two quarters. Maybe people would start using them then, but I doubt it. Just look at pushes for small sized dollar coins to be used, both the SBA and the gold-coloured versions failed. One problem is that no vending machine takes them. When I asked why, I usually got the answer that they would be too heavy and break the coin tubes or whatever. I think that's bunk. The tubes could be made from a stronger substance. Carbon fibre composites are cheap and plentiful these days. I doubt there is a logical reason for machines not accepting them other than intertia—"we've always done it that way." Cash acceptors could easily be built right now that would take them. Too bad it's not as easy as upgrading the firmware or sending a training bill through the acceptor, as it is for adding new denominations or designs to banknote acceptors.
If you want to make people collect those coins, make short programs that have quality designs and are very interesting. Also, the coins need to be marketed heavily or forced onto the public. For the kids to collect, have a simple idea (state quarters, presidential dollars, not anything weird) Another thing that I would want is to keep the old design while the program goes on, for the people that collect the old coin 10 designs, 2 per year would be very realistic for a coin program
I was going to comment on how the mint does not refine metals, but buys stock from refineries so melting SBAs and old Ikes does not apply, but this thread just gave me a headache so I'm dropping it. I think I'll go ignore the ignore post for a while.
