US coin are stuck in the 19th century. Although we've moved on to more modern, high-tech, mint equipment and more modern alloys, our coins are still sized the same way their were in the late 1800s (with one exception, the hated Sacajawea and Presidential dollars). In addition, two coins (the half and the dollar) don't even circulate! Also, the legends on our coins are outdated ("One Dime", as an example). Finally, our coins are relatively ugly and haven't experienced a true, unified, design change in years.
One Cent
Features Liberty wearing an Indian headdress and a bison, a nod to Native American culture.
Five Cents
Features a "liberty cap" and the Capitol dome.
Ten Cents
Features Liberty (from the famed Mercury dime) and the New York City skyline.
Twenty-Five Cents
Features Liberty seated, wearing an Indian headdress, holding a "liberty cap", next to a globe and an American flag, as well as Mount Rushmore and the Union Shield.
Fifty Cents
Features Liberty, an eagle, and the Union Shield.
One Dollar
Features the Statue of Liberty and an eagle from the Great Seal.
Specifications:
One Cent: 18 mm, Copper-plated-steel
Five Cents: 20 mm, Stainless steel, holed to avoid confusion with the 10 cent coin
Ten Cents: 21.5 mm, Copper-nickel
Twenty-Five Cents: 24.25 mm, Copper-nickel
Fifty Cents: 23 mm, Bi-metallic nickel-brass in stainless steel ring
One Dollar: 26 mm, Bi-metallic stainless steel in nickel-brass ring
This is just a first draft, so feel free to comment!
I have to say, in my opinion, the best design is the $1. I also believe coins should increase in size from smallest denomination to largest.
But that is just one man's opinion.
Quote: "dptashny"Finally, I'm starting a topic for this!
Background:
US coin are stuck in the 19th century. Although we've moved on to more modern, high-tech, mint equipment and more modern alloys, our coins are still sized the same way their were in the late 1800s (with one exception, the hated Sacajawea and Presidential dollars). In addition, two coins (the half and the dollar) don't even circulate! Also, the legends on our coins are outdated ("One Dime", as an example). Finally, our coins are relatively ugly and haven't experienced a true, unified, design change in years.
One Cent
Features Liberty wearing an Indian headdress and a bison, a nod to Native American culture.
Five Cents
Features a "liberty cap" and the Capitol dome.
Ten Cents
Features Liberty (from the famed Mercury dime) and the New York City skyline.
Twenty-Five Cents
Features Liberty seated, wearing an Indian headdress, holding a "liberty cap", next to a globe and an American flag, as well as Mount Rushmore and the Union Shield.
Fifty Cents
Features Liberty, an eagle, and the Union Shield.
One Dollar
Features the Statue of Liberty and an eagle from the Great Seal.
Specifications:
One Cent: 18 mm, Copper-plated-steel
Five Cents: 20 mm, Stainless steel, holed to avoid confusion with the 10 cent coin
Ten Cents: 21.5 mm, Copper-nickel
Twenty-Five Cents: 24.25 mm, Copper-nickel
Fifty Cents: 23 mm, Bi-metallic nickel-brass in stainless steel ring
One Dollar: 26 mm, Bi-metallic stainless steel in nickel-brass ring
This is just a first draft, so feel free to comment!
Those are some cool designs dptashny, I like the dollar coin in particular.
How about a square or non-round shaped coin? A nice rounded-edged triangle would be different.
Plus, we went to smaller coins, because, as you said, people didn't like the larger dollar coins. And we went to bills because as goods became more expensive, people didn't want pockets full of change.
I don't agree that the new dollar coins are hated, I just think people view them as a novelty or a collectible. If the US were to eliminate the $1 note, I think the $1 coins would be more readily used in daily circulation. Not marketing them as commemorative would probably help that.
I still think a little variety in size would help too. Four coins between 22 and 26 MM is not very different.
It would be fun to see though, if the US Government had enough guts to make a change.
I once heard that the bills don't change design for the reason that "they are harder to counterfeit" or something like that. Do you think there is a similar case for coins, or is it just that we just hate change?
I don't think the New York skyline is a strong enough American symbol but I love the mercury bust on it. What about a Mississippi paddle wheeler on it? Gives the south some recognition.
I believe the OP is not a member of Numista anymore.
FWIW, I believe US coinage does not need a major redesign, the penny and nickel design changes are refreshing if not radical. however it could do well with getting the Sacajawea dollar coin into circulation by doing away with the $1bills. Strippers and pole dancers may not be thrilled by that prospect... maybe they can attach a wearable card reader to their g string so that customers can just wave their credit cards at them lol
A two dollar coin would probably be useful too as it is in Canada. However, both Canada and the US Should rethink on the-introducing and reducing the size of the 50cent, possibly making them Copper/bronze plated steel to distinguish from the 25c and 1$
Last year I was doing a delivery to a shop in Surrey, and in the street I saw this note ...
so in Croydon the club has their own 'money' printed - that shown is a £1 value but maybe
there are others. So customers purchase these when they go in the club, then at the
end of the night the girls cash them in. No need for card readers lol.
I agree, the American currency in general needs a redesign.
The greenbacks are smelly, dated (designed in 1927) and worthless.
Get rid of the penny - its worthless and has no use. Make the nickel steel, leave the dime and the quarter. Reintroduce the 50c, $1 and a new $2 coin and heck get ahead of the fold - a $5 coin and notes for $10, $25 (We have a quarter, what about a quarter c note), $100 and $500 notes.
Suggestions
5c - Bison and Rosa Parks
10c - Woodpecker and Washington
25c - Beaver and Jefferson
50c - Bear and Harriet Tubman
$1 - Eagle and Obama
$2 - Native American and Kennedy
Notes
$5 - Christopher Street and Marsha P Johnson
$10 - Haight Ashbury and Harvey Milk
$25 - Greenwich Village and Gloria Steinem
$100 - New Orleans and Louis Armstrong
$500 - Paisley Park and Prince
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
Quote: "ZacUK" Last year I was doing a delivery to a shop in Surrey, and in the street I saw this note ...
so in Croydon the club has their own 'money' printed - that shown is a £1 value but maybe
there are others. So customers purchase these when they go in the club, then at the
end of the night the girls cash them in. No need for card readers lol.
Sickening and degrading - such garbage commodifies women and makes a mockery of intimate relations between humans.
(Don't worry ZacUK not taking aim at you, know you are just the messenger )
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
) 