Thursday, February 15, 2007

Faces Only a Mother Could Love

Just after Sacagawea got some good screentime in the movie Night at The Museum, the U.S. Government fails to take advantage of the opportunity to exploit pop culture in re-advertisting the $1 dollar coins that sit in reserve bearing her likeness. The US Mint has $180 million dollars worth of Sacagawea gold dollars just sitting there. Just think actress Mizuo Peck, the actress who palayed Sacagawea could get on the US Payroll and advertise for these coins all the time!

And at the same time they are beginning as of today the release of the 1st of what I presume to be 44 (45) different gold coins baring the images of America's presidents.

I imagine the release of these coins to be the same as the release of the US Quarters we have seen in the past few year (mentioned once here on Strange Culture).

The US Government of course wants these to be successful because they will last longer than paper dollars that get used and warn out quickly (the average $1 bill last 18 months). Also, they surely are hoping to bank money on novice coin collectors who will want to collect the entire set (everyone of these cost 20 cents or so to make, so someone who gets a coin that does not spend it is giving the US 80 cents profit on these coins).

So maybe Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea didn't offer the intrigue need to get people excited in carrying a round a pocket full of metal...but will John Adams and James Madison?

Related Tags: , , , , , , ,

5 comments:

Ando said...

The only place I've ever actually spent a Sacagawea dollar is Ecuador. I got them as change and spent them there. I've never used one in the US, even when the stamp machine at the Post Office gave me $5 change in all Sacagaweas.

Terence Towles Canote said...

I always hated the Susan B. Anthony dollars--they looked too much like quarters to me (ever notice how much Susan B. and George Washington ever looked alike...). But I liked he Sacagawea dollars and use them at the vending machines at work.

Ryan said...

I wonder what Tim hardaway thinks about the coins? ;)

Anonymous said...

I like dollar coins. Not that I use them. Or any cash, for the most part...

Speaking of the presidential coins - isn't there a rule that you have to be dead before you go on US currency? I think it would be a little odd - if they get that far with it - to have an American dollar with the image of the sitting president on it...

crackers and cheese said...

I occasionally receive sacagawea's from my customers. It's fun to see them, but I try to get rid of them before I close my cash till. I find a customer, who will be receiving at least a dollar in change, who seems fun-loving and say, "Hey, want a Sacagawea?" and I've never been refused.