The End Of The Dollar Bill? (Update)

Edge lettering is one of the most effective anti-counterfeiting features so that's a pretty silly expectation. Security is worth more than aesthetic sensibility.

Edge lettering is okay.

Date and mint mark on the edge is not okay, unless it is in addition to being on the face.

Bret:

The $2 bill is needed. Both me and my mother get large amounts, as much as $9 in $1 bills at a time. Imagine that in COINS. Also, as I have said when I first started looking at the U.S. replacing the $1 bill with a gold colored dollar coin, back in 1995, the public opinion polls have shown that at least 89% of the American public will turn to the $2 bill as their "paper alternative" . As for the $500 bill, ever heard of the term "Cash is King"? When I once bought a truck from a private seller, we were chatting and I said that they should issue a $200 bill and bring back the $500 bill, and he said, "Heck, bring back the $1,000 bill" so there is still demand out there for cash and large cash purchases. So, as I said, since the government will never win the war against organized crime, so, why take away the conveniences of larger denominations away from the good people who will benefit from them. I would love to be able to carry two $500 bills or one $1,000 bill over ten $100 bills. Even five $200 bills sounds better. And if I ever wanted to buy a $10,000 or more rv or boat or whatever, I would definately want to have $2,000, $5,000, and/or $10,000 bills on me, than a suitcase full of $100 bills, not only because it would be more noticible by muggers, but also that, the guy you buy that rv off of will want to count those tens of thousands of dollars to make sure every dollar was there, so I believe all large denominations should be reissued, and as for the drug dealers and money launderers? Who cares? Let them have their drugs and large denomination currency. Drug dealers are not hurting the majority of the American public anyway, so why worry? In fact, I have always said, why not just legalize all illegal drugs, and that way, people won't be killing each other over them, and even the government will benefit from the drug sales. If some people want to mess up their bodies using drugs, I say, the more power to them, but you won't catch me touching the drugs, legal or not, and I think most smart people won't touch them either. My mother actually told me of her there was a time where you could legally buy heroine. I never knew it, but I was told you used to be able to go right to your local drug store and buy heroine. Why not just do that again, but with all drugs? After all, I have been told that tobacco and alcohol are drugs, so, why are they legal, while all other drugs are not? Why can you smoke a cigerette or drink a beer, yet you can't do any other kind of drugs? Note that I am NOT in any way supporting drug use. I think all drugs should really still be illegal, but I also see a side where, if people want to play with drugs, legalize them for the dummies that want to use them, to solve or minumize the problem of drug related crimes.

Bret,

Try telling a U-Scan that about the nine $1 bills, and also, shopping at different places and if you spend a $10 bill, you could still end up with at most, four $1 bills. I know you could just keep spending those $1 bills, or if I have a lot of $1 bills, I give them to my 7 Eleven clerk friend, for $5s, $10s, and $20s or even $2s if he has them. Back to U-Scans, they sometimes can spit out a TON of $1 bills, if they are out of $5s and $10s. U-Scans have only three bill cassettes, so there is not one for $20s, just $1s, $5s and $10s, which may either go to $5s, $10s, and $20s, or $2s, $5s, ans $10s. But if people do demand $2 bills, as suggested in Public opinion polls since the mid 1990s, which have shown, around 89% of all Americans will turn to the $2 bill if the $1 bill goes, stores will stock them in their U-Scans and cashiers will be made to use them. Also, I know that will not accomplish much, seeing as the $2 bills in wide circulation will wear out as fast as $1 bills do now, but I have read that, $5 bills actually wear out faster than $1 bills, currently, so, we still won't be gaining much, even with the $1 bill replaced with the coin and whether the $2 bill circulates widely or not. But since the $2 bill would wear out, this is why we'd need a $2 coin about five years after the $1 bill is phased out, and $1 coins and $2 bills are in wide circulation, and the American public gets used to $1 coins and a $2 denomination in general. Then there would be no reason to carry more than two large coins at a time. A $1 coin and a $2 coin, or two $2 coins. Unless halves ever do circulate again and remain large, then you'd carry a maximum of three large coins, which should not be that big of a deal.

I agree. The best thing to do will be to eliminate the dollar bill and force use of the dollar coin. They will not peaceably coexist in the U.S. Canada has proved this already.

I do not think however that anything will make the $2 bill useful.

We should take the lead of our great friends to the north and learn from their example. Canada has successfully rid themselves of the cent, paper dollar and paper $2. They have provided iconic, non partisan designs and functional coinage and currency.

The US would do well to emulate this. Eliminate the cent now. Plan for a $2 coin in a couple years. Plan for an eventual withdrawal of the 5 Cent coin. After that let nature take its course and see if the public prefers a 50 Cent coin or 20 cent coin to replace the quarter.

Replace the obverse designs with a standardized Liberty design and the reverse of each coin a different American icon. Put an eagle on one coin, the Capitol on another, The White House, Hoover Dam, or some other easily recognizable American achievement or monument on the others.

Put the dates and mint marks on the obverse of each coin. Make each coin smaller than they are now and have each a different feel, one with scalloped edges, another with ridges, one with edge lettering (preferably the highest value coin), a couple with multiple flat edge surfaces.

As for larger value bills; there is no need. In fact we could get rid of the $100 bill and legitimate commerce would not be inconvenienced.

Most purchases over increasing smaller amounts are going to plastic or electronic sales. Cashiers do not even blink if a person whips out a credit or debit card for a tiny purchase but whip out a few $100's to buy a TV and the manager will have to approve it and mark the bill with those silly (and wholly ineffective) marker pens. Pity the fool who walks into the store with a pocket full of change to buy stuff...

It is time for a total revamp of our coin and currency system but it won't happen before it becomes totally obsolete anyway.

Drug dealers wouldn't carry large bills since drug users don't pay with large bills, usually $10 and $20 bills.
They don't hurt the majority, but they do hurt indirectly by introducing crime to otherwise normal people who are sadly addicted to drugs and must steal to obtain their fix, not to mention the innocent victims of their crimes.

"[Canada] have provided iconic, non partisan designs".... You mean like the Queen of England?

"In fact we could get rid of the $100 bill and legitimate commerce would not be inconvenienced.".... My job would suck if all I had was $20 and $50 bills. Even $100 is not enough cash in my profession.

Just how often must this dead horse be beaten?

First world problem and a pretty stupid one. Worrying what to use as an $1 medium for currency instead of worrying about its purchasing power...