What Should The Largest Circulating Coin In The U.s Be.?

Canada is a great showcase for what the US should be doing. They have many similar traits and traditions but are more apt to make reasonable changes.

They eliminated the cent, the $1 and $2 bills and added the $1 and $2 coins over the last 30 years. They did the dollar and two-dollar coins right by eliminating the corresponding bills. After a few grumbles here and there they were accepted into every day commerce and are commonplace these days.

They have the same issue with the half dollar, no one uses it but they still make them for collectors as a circulation coin.

I would not be surprised to see the 5-cent coin eliminated in the next 10 years or so north of the border. Whether this will result in a 20 cent coin to replace the quarter or increased use of the half would need to be seen.

In addition, if inflation continues you could see the $5 bill replaced with a coin down the road.

The Euro has done much the same as has the UK. While they still use cent or pence coins (in some areas anyway) the 1 and 2 Euro or Pound coins are in everyday use across the pond and the corresponding bills are not.

That's because there never were any 1 or 2 Euro notes and Britain ditched the pound note shortly after they introduced the round pound in 1983. I believe they are working the five pound coin into circulation now and will almost certainly eliminate the five pound note.

america, introduce coloUrs into your money.








WE HAVE SEE THROUGH MONEY!

I voted for the $2 coin as the highest circulating coin. I just don't understand why the U.S. is so slow to adapt to changing conditions. Most people that I have met are very accepting of $1 coins (I spend these exclusively). I think the American public would not complain as much as people think if the $1 bill were eliminated. But who knows? We could still be having this same debate 10 years from now. grrr

hahaha, our money smells like maple syrup!

@jbuck: I do use a card for 99% of my purchases, but I make a conscious effort to use cash for anything under $3-5, owing to how much the card companies charge for a transaction. I have circulated easily 20-100x as many half and dollar coins as the average American, but I still find them to be a hassle, since they still require a fair bit of planning unless I am willing to put up with a 24/7 jingle in my pockets. Do Canadians simply always carry a Loonie or Twonie in their pockets?

I voted for the $5 and $2 coins, and the half. However, ideally, I would suggest the following:
Eliminate the cent and nickel. Dimes are worth next to nothing now, so we can round to 10 cents. Reissue the 20 cent piece, eliminate the quarter, keep the half, keep the dollar coin, reissue $2.50, $5, $10 and $20 pieces (not in gold) as well as $50 and $100 pieces and eliminate all paper currency while adding anti-counterfeit measures to high denomination coins.

Yes, most Canadians have probably $5 to $10 in their pocket at any given time, the coins add up very quickly, sometimes when I am doing bank runs for my CRH hobby, I will actually have about $60 in change in my pocket.