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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Drago the Wolf, post: 777632, member: 22476&quot;]I mean, if we are going to keep them around another 10 years or so, I think the $1 and $2 bills should be &quot;modernized&quot; like the $5-$100 are. Or if they are not going to redesign them, then scrap these two lowly denominations for coins. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Not only should the $1 and $2 bills be redesigned for looks, but, they NEED new security features (even if minor security features like watermarks and/or security threads) to prevent counterfeiters from bleaching current $1 or $2 bills, and printing pre-1990 Series $5-$100 bills before any security features were added to those higher denominations, on the genuine currency paper that would evade a counterfeit pen test.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I know what some of you are probably thinking. &quot;Why worry about that issue? If people run into someone with a 1985 small head $100 bill, they are going to question it, for being so old and still in circulation, sooner or later as time goes by and people come upon &quot;small head&quot; $5-$100s&quot; Good theory, but if older people stashed away older cash in their matresses for many years, before the redesign, what then? (-;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>There was also the issue that the vending industry would suffer a hefty blow to their botton line, if the $1 bill were redesigned. Well, the $5 bill is almost as common and commonly used in most vending machines as the $1 bill, and the two redesigns of the $5 has not seemed to have slowed the vending industry down, has it? And while the vending indurstry is reprogramming their machines, there should be new $1, $2 and $5 bill designs issued every 7-10 years along with the higher denominations, only, the $1 $2 and $5 designs should come out &quot;together&quot; so that vendors only have to tear apart their machines to reprogram for new $1s $2s and $5s. And yes, I included $2s because, if vending machines were reprogrammed to accept and dispense $2 bills (and half dollar coins) the $2 denomination WILL circulate, due to people getting $2s from local self checkouts and such. Many people will hoard at first, and some will complain, but, as the $2 bill is received by the public more and more, and the hoarding stops, due to there being too many $2s out there to hoard, then $2s were spent by them as well, the $2 bill would become a norm.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also, with people bulking at the thoughts of the $1 coin replacing the $1 bill, why not print a redesigned $1 bill, and also $2-$100 bills on polymer plastic, as some other people here have already suggested? Here are two good reasons: #1) Polymer banknotes are way more sanitary than the current cotton/linen &quot;cloth&quot; paper composition we currently use on U.S. banknotes, #2) Polymer banknotes last up to four (4) times as long as the current cotton/linen banknotes we have now. Think about it, the $1 bill lasts about a year and a half, muiltply that by four, you have a $1 bill that lasts SIX (6) years Vs. one and a half (1 1/2) years. That saves the government a bundle in $1 bill production right there, BUT wait, that is not all! Also, as I said GET the $2 bill, in polymer form, into general circulation through vending machines (at first), cutting the production of printing $1 bills even more! Oh, and there is a reason #3: Because unlike cotton/linen bills, which are destroyed and dumped in landfills, polymer banknotes can also be recycled into, you guessed it, more polymer banknotes. That cuts costs a bit more, seeing as the BEP does not need to get ahold of as much more currency material, as they do with cotton/linen material.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Finally, this is more for the &quot;coin&quot; section of these boards, but, while the vendors reprogram for new $1, $2 and $5 bills, if they ever do, INSTALL a half dollar tube as well! Halves are big, but they are NOT &quot;too heavey to carry&quot; Halves weigh about as much as two quarters, but are less cumbersome, and at least a bit more conveinient as those two quarters you&#039;d have to be carrying anyway, so why not a half over two quarters? If I were to pay for a 25 cent pack of gum (if you can even find a &quot;25 cent&quot; pack of gum these days <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie11" alt=":rolleyes:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> ) and I paid with a $1 bill, I would rather have the cashier hand me back a half and a quarter as opposed to three quarters. The key to the half&#039;s circulation, again, is up to vending machines, such as self checkouts to dispense halves as &quot;normal currency&quot; and like with circulating $2 bills, there would be a lot of hoarders, and a few complainers, but eventually, it would all die down, and halves would become a normal every day thing. Not sure how much money halves would save on quarters, by minting halves, if halves do contain the same ammount of metal as two quarters, but maybe the half could be redesigned to be smaller, and with a slightly different shape, like Canada&#039;s Loonie $1 coin which is acually octogon-like shaped, that would be a good way to distinguish a smaller half from and similar sized other U.S. coin (cent, nickel, dime or quarter (or if they insist on keeping the $1 coin inproduction) Maybe the U.S. $1 coin should be made half dollar size, as people have suggested, and we could make the half just like the Canadian $1 coin, same shape, but copper or silver in color to distinguish a new U.S. half from a Canadian Loonie. Just a thought.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The conclusion to both issues:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Dollar coins replacing $1 bills: This issue continues to be hit with steep opposition, despite it saving billions in tax dollars. The solution: (For now) Go to polymer banknotes and get the $2 bill into wide circulation via cash dispensing vending machines, such as self checkouts.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Getting the $2 bill and half dollar coin to circulate: The fact of the matter is that, banks do not normally hand out $2s or halves unless specisfically asked for them. And also, the majority of the U.S. population is &quot;not&quot; going to go out of there way to obtain &quot;special denominations&quot; of U.S. coins and currency, that some of the people are not even sure these two denominations are made anymore. Most are going to take what they get, which is mostly quarters, $1 bills and $5 bills, and not go out of there way to ask the bank &quot;Do you have $2 bills and/or half dollar coins?&quot; As stated above get as many vending machines, especially &quot;key&quot; vending machines such as self checkouts to accept and dispense $2s and halves.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Oh, and a good idea for the $1 COIN would be to stop minting them in large numbers, go back to Eisenhower-sized dollar coins, and just have a few of them available at banks and as comemeratives, numismatic/collector&#039;s items, and for special gifts. I loved getting Ikes from my parents every now and then, about 20 or so years ago, but then I got bummed out, as Ikes became more rare, and when my parents gave me and my sibs Susan B. Anthony dollars. I immediatly ask my parents &quot;What is this? I wanted a DOLLAR coin! :bigeyes: ) LoL[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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