ROCHESTER, N.Y. — You may be surprised to learn that 75 percent of respondents to the latest Harris Poll say they haven’t seen one of the presidential dollar coins in circulation. What might not surprise you is what American adults think of the dollar coins.When asked if they prefer the paper dollar or dollar coin, only 13% prefer the dollar coin. These coins seem to be less used in the East than in any other region, as just 19% of Easterners have seen one.Another idea that has been proposed from time to time has been the abolition of the penny. By more than a two-to-one majority (56% to 24%) most people oppose this idea.While there is a strong reluctance to abolish the penny or to use $1 coins, a large majority (68% to 16%) is in favor of using more colors in bills of different denominations to make it easier to tell them apart. This is normal practice in many other countries, but until recently all U.S. currency bills in all denominations were green.Despite the negative reaction to dollar coins, there always seems to be interest in adding another one to the supply. This has happened once again with a new Ronald Reagan dollar coin. The Ronald Regan presidential dollar coin is due out in 2016. However, the establishment of a Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission with a $1 commemorative coin produced from February 2010 to February 2011 is one of the requests before Congress. The bill, H.R. 5235, was introduced this year by U.S. Reps. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., and Roy Blunt, R-Mo.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].