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In the US, the largest coin in (general) circulation remains the quarter (about 12p!). Is there any demand amongst Americans for more 'sensible' coins like a dollar, 2 dollar, 5 dollar etc to be minted and put in general circulation, and, if not (as I suspect) why not?
Paul Street, Leeds
- The US did try to introduce a $2:00 coin about 25 years ago. They were unpopular, and soon (for coins) withdrawn from circulation. The only place I saw them routinely used was in slot machines and pin tables.
Peter Brooke, By Kinmuck Scotland
- In fact, the U.S. does have a dollar coin in circulation now. One with an image of George Washington was released in February 2007, and a second with John Adams in May. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison will follow later this year, and eventually there will be a dollar coin for every president, issued in the order in which they served. The coin is golden in color and a little larger than the quarter. I think it is still too close to the quarter in appearance to ever catch on, but it is more distinctive than the incompetently designed Susan B. Anthony dollar, which was not easily distinguished from quarters. It is not in wide circulation yet because it is only a few months old, and people are hoarding them and trying to collect all the presidents. As long as we keep on printing dollar bills, the coin will never truly catch on.
William Dunlap, Hamden, Connecticut USA
- There is a $1 coin , that was in general circulation , but the American taste for the greenback drove into obscurity.There is a US $2 note, that is used mainly outside the USA in countries in S America where the dollar is the currency of daily use. Whether they are acepted in the USA , I do not know.
Brian Robinson, Brentwood Essex
- Actually the US has a $1 coin and has NEVER had a $2 coin. They did try a $2 note several years ago but it did not take off and is rarely, if ever, seen now. Canada on the other hand HAS had a $1 coin (The Loonie) since 1987 and a $2 coin (The Toonie) for about 10 years. In the US they did not stop issuing $1 notes so their $1 coin has never really taken off, in Canada our $1 and $2 notes were withdrawn and the coins are very acceptable and common. The Canadian Mint recently decided NOT to try a $5 coin.
David Crawford, Toronto Canada
See AlsoUS Coins
- Even though the quarter is only 12p in England, it's 25 cents here. In other words, when I was visiting London a few years back I found that you could basically purchase for a pound what your could for a dollar back in the U.S. We don't feel the exchange rate here until we come to you.
Becky Parton, Dallas, GA U.S.
- the largest coin is actually the silver $1 bullion at40.6 mm diameter.
B. Romans, Seattle USA
- Like most people in the USA I rarely use cash. The exception is giving tips, something I need to do once or more each day. Giving notes is more satisfying - to both parties - than giving coins. This, I suspect, is a small part of the answer.
Paul, Houston, USA
- I would personally love to see a larger selection of coins out there in circulation. I think the biggest problem is that contemporary coins are just plain or ugly looking. They should stop minting coins with portraits as well. I'm tired of the government idolizing past political figures and such. They should just print a dollar coin with some sort of an edgy tribal design.
Aaron Houston, Jonesboro, United States
- Paper money comes in $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations. Coins come in $.01, $.05, $.1, $.25, $.5 and $1. Bullion collectible (non-circulating) coins come in silver, gold and platinum and in denominations of $1, $5, $10, $25, $50 and $100. Commemorative coins are relesased yearly in $.5, $1, $5(half eagle) and $10 (eagle). Efforts have been underway to eliminate the paper dollar and the penny, both have been unsuccessful.Before production on them stopped in 1946 backnotes were produced in $500 (McKinley), $1000 (Cleveland), $5000 (Madison), $10,000 (Salmon P. Chase) and $1000,000 (Wilson) denominations. Nixon, in an effort to prevent their use by organized crime, banned their use as legal tender in 1969.
Stanton Adams, Charlotte, United States
- We hate clad coins so much that we amended our constitution to allow congress to "print" rather than just "coin" money. Americans would use coins again if the U.S. dollar were tied to a gold or silver standard as it was back when we used coins only. Until then, they're just inconvenient. As to the denominations, we think in fractions. So there is no point in having .20 cent coins; they make as much sense as a 33 1/3 cent coin.
Tanner, College Station Republic of Texas
