The dollar coin won't be accepted for general use as long as it is so close in size and heft to the quarter. It doesn't matter whose face is on it. Using paper currency for $1 is nuts. But there has yet to be a serious effort to displace it. This latest one fails like the others.

If I ever get some, I will toss them in my dresser drawer with the Chuck E. Cheese tokens.

Trimet machines have been giving them as change for years. Dont use a $20 bill to buy a $2 ticket...

Perhaps one or more enterprising "creatives" can save enough coins made in their image to buy one of these:

http://tinyurl.com/632qhw

One of Steve Novick's ideas that I liked best was to take Andrew (Trail of Tears) Jackson off of the 20 dollar bill. Hard to think of someone less deserving of commemoration than the old chauvinist. With four different presidents depicted on the new coin why is it that Portland gets stuck with Jackson? I'd take Sacajawea any day.

I don't think these are going to work. Whenever a clerk gives me a dollar coin in change, I feel almost as if they handed me a turd.

Then I scheme to get rid of it at the earliest opportunity.

I think it is a laugh riot that the federal government is burning tax dollars to convince the public to embrace this money.

They can use the dazed and confused expression on Jackson's face as a model for the face of Ronald Reagan whenever the right-wingers can get him on a bill.

Why is it so hard for the government (at least this government) to simply mandate the use of the coin? It is silly to spend money on a PR campaign asking people to think about using money that the gov't issues.

They already step all over everything else - if you want to phase out use of the dollar bill, stop printing them and issue coins only. People will stop bitching when they realize they have no choice but to comply.

I don't think these are going to work. Whenever a clerk gives me a dollar coin in change, I feel almost as if they handed me a turd.

A dollar is a dollar. I dont care what form its in. But hey, you want to get rid useless coins, lets lose the penny.

I don't know about y''all, but I have about $100 in change sitting in a dish on my dresser. The reason: coins are a pain in the a@@.

Gimme paper money any day.

My only concern is - will strippers take them?

(I can't believe this topic hasn't been raised yet on this *ahem* illustrious forum...)

The Mint and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving and the Federal Reserve need to, all at the same time:

1. Stop printinng the one dollar paper currency;

2. Stop minting the fifty cent piece;

3. Issue a dollar coin slightly smaller in diameter than the fifty cent piece and at least twice as thick as the quarter;

4. Print and issue two dollar paper cyurrency in about 20% of the volume of the one dollar bills.

The dollar coins go in cash registeres where the half bucks used to; the $ 2.00 currency goes in cash registers where the dollar bills used to go.

Stop talking about it.

Just do it.

I agree with Mike. The only way $1 coins will ever be accepted by the general public is to make them the only option.

If they really want this trial to work, then simply stop delivering $1 bills to the area banks. Gradually worn bills will be removed from circulation and the coins will take their place.

Do we dare consider the Carbon Footprint resulting from manufacturing ceramic piggy banks by the millions and fuel wasted transporting the coins?

They're running ads now, telling you how cool it is to use the dollar coins, because they're good for the environment.

Everything, it seems amounts to a selling of "green". Dollar coins are good for the environment. Condo towers that have windows that can be opened are good for the environment. 19th-century transportation is good for the environment. Yadda yadda.

My only concern is - will strippers take them?

Excellent point. I believe that the government is indeed working with Portland strippers to enlist their help in getting the public to accept the dollar coins.

Strippers would sound like maracas if we only had dollar coins.

So I heard anyways.

It all depends on the stripper. Not to get too crude on a family forum, but there was a gal at Mary's Club back in the day who could pick up a stack of quarters...

Actually, if you Photoshop the creepy little black glasses onto Andrew Jackson, Sam the Tram appears...

The person depicted can't possibly be a young creative in Portland. He has no visible facial piercings.