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My Draft To Congress On Mostly Coin Issues But Paper As Well

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Pillar of the Community

708 Posts
 Posted 09/27/2013  02:48 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Fox to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
This is the letter that I wrote to my state Senators, and befor I sent it out to them, I sent it to the Dollar Coin Alliance to see if anything should be added or removed, and their reply was simply "Good" So, I guess I DID "good" But I'm not sure how that will be judged here, but I like seeing what others have to say about my ideas, so here goes:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Senator,

I am writing to you once again, in regards to some of our our U.S. coin and currency issues.
First off, would you please consider becoming a Co-Sponsor of the Currency Optimization, Innovation and National Savings (Coins) Act, and if possible, add an amendment that requires all vending machines that needs to be retooled or replaced to dispense $1 dollar coins be programmed to accept $2 bills and to also accept and dispense half dollar coins, and have self checkout machines that must be retooled or replaced to accept and dispense $1 coins, be made to both accept and dispense $2 bills and half dollar coins as well. Or could you possibly lobby for a $2 coin to be accepted and dispensed by all vending and self checkout machines as well, so that the American public may be more satisfied by carrying less $1 coins, to go along side the half dollar coin and $1 coin? These ideas would save the government money on minting less quarters and $1 coins, and the COINS Act already says it would save $13.8 billion dollars, $2 bills or $2 coins to cut the needed $1 coins to replace the $1 coin production roughly in half, and more halves and less quarters would also save more money. I would suggest the $2 coin, for better savings. The reason we should have all vending and self checkout machines made to accept and dispense half dollar coins (and possibly $2 coins) is because there is a circle that needs to be broken where vendors do not accept halves because people don't use them, and people don't use halves, so the vending industry does not upgrade to accept or dispense halves. Please help get the $1 coin, half dollar coin, and preferibly a longer lasting $2 coin (if not the $2 bill) based on Canada's $2 coin as the prototype for our U.S. $2 coin, going so that all new machines needed to be upgraded to accept and dispense $1 coins, can accept and dispense all three coin denominations. I was told by a grocery store manager that the self checkout machines they have, would all have to be completely replaced if they had the need to dispense dollar coins, so, why not get new machines made that also accept and dispense half dollar coins and $2 coins, to make sure we are prepared, instead of having to update as certain new coin denominations come out. Perhaps we could also reduce the size of the half dollar coin, and make it a sided coin, like a nonagon-type shape, and copper in color and slightlt thicker than all other U.S. coins, yet still able to fit unto vending machine slots, so that the new halves would be distiguishible by looks and touch for the blind and visually impaired, and to make halves lighter, and therefore, more attractive than two quarters, which the current half dollar coin weighs.

Could you please also support phasing out the penny, and possibly reducing the nickel to the size of the penny, and making the new, polygon-sided half dollar coins the size of the nickel. Or otherwise, if you think it would be too confusing to make copper halves the size of nickels and silver colored nickels the size of pennies you could support making the new smaller halves in between the size of the nickel and the quarter, due to the new half dollar coins being a thicker and sided coin as opposed to a round coin, to tell the coin by feel and copper-colored to tell by a quick glance. And also, could you please support making the nickel out of a cheaper metal composition?

One other thing is, I have learned a bit of news that the Treasury is talking about wanting to reissue the $500 bill, but as of now its just talks and nothing has been made official yet, but if and when it does, I have read that the Secretary of the Treasury still has the authority to print $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 bills if he chooses to do so, and the Federal Reserve still has the authority to order any or all of these large denominations Federal Reserve notes, and that if they order them, the Secretary of the Treasury must order them printed. Anyway the Treasury wants $500 bills because $100 does not go as far as it used to and I have always heard that, if the Treasury talks about reissuing the $500 bill, they would likely consult with Congress first, but the thing is, although they are talking about reissuing the $500 bill, there was no mention of a $200 bill, which I know would take an Act of Congress to issue $200 bills, because there was never a real U.S. $200 Federal Reserve note printed, but I figure, this is another way of saving money. Printing fewer $500 bills instead if printing so many $100 bills, which the demand for the $100 denomination is steadily increasing, printing less $100 bills would save the government money, and a few more $200 to close in the gap between the $100 and $500 bills would save even more so. Please support any movement to reissue the $500 bill, and if there is a movement to do so, please get involved with getting a $200 bill on the drawing board as well.

So, all of that said, could you please consider becoming a Co-Sponsor of the COINS Act, as well as supporting all of the other suggestions I mentioned? These ideas could save the U.S. government billions of dollars, and I would bet it would be considerably more than $13.8 billion if you follow all of my suggestions.

Thank You for your time.

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If this idea flys, we could see circulating, and possibly redesigned halves, $1, and $2 coins (I mentioned $2 bills, but why use $2 bills when the new machines should be equipt to accept and dispense $2 coins instead of retooling or scrapping the machines out again? And $2 bills would likely be replaced with $2 coins if $1 bills are replaced with $1 coins anyway, so...) And we may also see the end of the cent, a cheaper metal composition nickel, and $200 and $500 bills in circulation. I think the redesign of the half should be done in 2015 if and only if they change the size and shape as I suggest. Let the Kennedy half be for the 50 year mark thats coming up, and then, change it.

The only issue I see here with having curculating halves, $1 and $2 coins is that we would have six circulation coins (nickel, dime, quarter, half, $1 and $2) and I would hope that the $2 coin would not force the half out of circulation, or vise-versa, since we would need six coin slots in cash registers (or even seven slots if the cent remained) however, we might have to update our cash register trays here in the U.S., same as Bm0ney's cash register tray in Canada, which has eight coin slots and four bill slots, but I believe Bm0ney said it could be converted to a five bill slot drawer ($5, $10, $20, $50, $100/$200 ($200s under $100s) with $500s going under the till or in a safe, but thats old news from me) Then we can all be happy. Cents (and hopefully, in the near future the nickel and quarter with the ressurection of the fifth) and the $1 and $2 bills will go away, and the $1, $2 and half dollar coins and $500 bills will come back, and we will have a new arrival in the form of a $200 bill.
Edited by Fox
09/27/2013 02:50 am
Pillar of the Community
United States
3789 Posts
 Posted 09/27/2013  1:57 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add yup7676 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Fox-


I have ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE what you are writing about nor about the issues.

I do want to say this tho, I tip my hat at you and want to commend you for taking the time to write about something you strongly believe and feel about.

Keep up the good work buddy.
Valued Member
DCM Coins's Avatar
United States
446 Posts
 Posted 09/27/2013  2:12 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add DCM Coins to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
What you are asking for here is a Federal mandate as to how vending machines are to be designed. Should these coins be rendered obsolete by inflation, it would then take another act of Congress to fix that. Congress hasn't been able to pass a budget since....was it 2009? And you want them to have control over the design of vending machines?

Even if what you're asking for is implemented, you can't force the public to use coins or bills that are unpopular.

Also.....for over 200 years this nation has gotten along fine without $200 bills. The world won't come to an end if we continue to not use them.
Valued Member
DCM Coins's Avatar
United States
446 Posts
 Posted 09/27/2013  2:13 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add DCM Coins to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
BTW, if you get a reply, please post it. Thanks.
Valued Member
Fatman's Avatar
United States
362 Posts
 Posted 09/27/2013  3:21 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Fatman to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Fox,

I like the overall idea from a collectors and consumers point of view, however it'll never fly.

After reading such a well thought out article, I can not help but know, that you must have considered that this all hinges on politicians to be done. This my friend is the problem, as nor you or I have the amount of money needed to beat the vending industry lobbyist or the public outrage of having to learn "new money" so to speak.

The lobbyist are going to have a fit with the economy being the way it is, not to mention the installation costs of Obamacare. Next if that occurs you will have millions of people complaining about changing what wasn't broken and the associated costs, both being valid arguments.

So if this is to happen my best guess is that it won't happen for decades, if ever.

With this being said I'm very curious on what the reply will be. Good Luck!
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Libertad's Avatar
Canada
3692 Posts
 Posted 09/27/2013  4:39 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Libertad to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
If the issue is saving money, wouldn't it be best to print United States Notes and phase out FRNs? That and outlaw fractional reserve lending (Ponzi) at every level. Hire veterans to enforce this highest treasonous crime.

I have read that there are billions in US dollar coins just sitting in vaults, not really moving anywhere. The treasury should start an education campaign on YouTube, the kind of ads you can't skip. It would be propaganda, but it would be good. I have to admit, though, I believe that these coins were made with disgusting alloys on purpose to repel the public from respecting coins, from 1 cent to 1 dollar. But at least the public could be made aware of the options to FRNs, that's for sure.
Edited by Libertad
09/27/2013 4:40 pm
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LincolnGuy's Avatar
917 Posts
 Posted 09/27/2013  4:49 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add LincolnGuy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I don't see this ever happening. People like whats easy. Counting change and learning new denominations is not easy enough for people these days. The only change I see is a cashless society. It's already happening.
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Foxwoods Man's Avatar
United States
4901 Posts
 Posted 09/27/2013  5:35 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Foxwoods Man to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:

I have ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE what you are writing about nor about the issues.


Yep...Total flight of ideas

This is one sentence:


Quote:

First off, would you please consider becoming a Co-Sponsor of the Currency Optimization, Innovation and National Savings (Coins) Act, and if possible, add an amendment that requires all vending machines that needs to be retooled or replaced to dispense $1 dollar coins be programmed to accept $2 bills and to also accept and dispense half dollar coins, and have self checkout machines that must be retooled or replaced to accept and dispense $1 coins, be made to both accept and dispense $2 bills and half dollar coins as well.


Dude....Wow!
Edited by Foxwoods Man
09/27/2013 5:38 pm
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nalaberong's Avatar
Canada
2805 Posts
 Posted 09/27/2013  7:48 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add nalaberong to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Forget the fiddly little changes that appear in hordes - do a full reform. Go big or go home. Don't just diddle around with small bills and big coins, but re-do the whole series to reflect the basic fact that the dollar is worth at least 10x less than it was in 1964, the last time the sizes of coins had to be in perfect proportion to their value. Oh, and start using metric.

And how does the government regulate pre-existing vending machines? Do they have to create a special arm of the Federal Reserve for it? I'm thinking something catchy, like "Federal Vending Machine Bureau".

If you can get EVERY U.S. coin changed in one go, vending machine operators have no choice but to change everything in turn. Just laugh off the idiots protecting their zinc and paper factories, because they're burning tax money out of personal interest.
Valued Member
United States
317 Posts
 Posted 09/29/2013  5:32 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add PennyPiggy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I love your passion, but there are just other things that someone could be writing their representative about.

Yeah I know this is a coin site, but I'm sure someone could think of a few more important things to write them other than $1/$2 coins or something. I don't know maybe about doing something about 1 out of 6 Americans go hungry, better funding for Americans to go to school/better education, road repair etc

but getting back to topic, I don't want coins, I carry a wallet not a coin pouch. And I actually don't want paper either if I don't have too.

But I'm still waiting for the mom and pop stores to buy a cellphone and hook it up to a card swiper. but I guess i'll have to wait for that generation to retire or hopefully they'll finally figure out how to flip the on switch on a computer, whichever comes 1st.

i have zero idea why anyone would try and bring back +100 bills. on the consumer side its safer to just carry a check/plastic if you're going to make a large purchase and on the banking side, business is done electronically so there isn't a need for those big notes for which they were created for in the 1st place.

The gov has had numerous problems trying to get the new 100s right and has spent a lot of money trying to get the process right, I have zero idea why they would even attempt such an endeavor with larger bills. And to be honest I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting a bill that large either.

Its like bringing back a dinosaur. Nice for a novelty item but isn't practical in today's world.

And is it me or am I the only one that has vending machines that accepts plastic now? We need to go forward not backwards.
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nalaberong's Avatar
Canada
2805 Posts
 Posted 09/29/2013  6:36 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add nalaberong to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
Its like bringing back a dinosaur. Nice for a novelty item but isn't practical in today's world.

Ha! You thought you could re-use the same simile twice without me noticing? Nice try!!

Quote:
I don't want coins, I carry a wallet not a coin pouch.

What kind of pockets do you guys have? :I
Valued Member
United States
317 Posts
 Posted 09/29/2013  7:46 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add PennyPiggy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
nalaberong

Pockets that don't want loose change in them.
Pillar of the Community
708 Posts
 Posted 09/29/2013  11:14 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Fox to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
i have zero idea why anyone would try and bring back +100 bills.


Maybe its because I said: $100 bills are steadily increasing in demand, especially overseas where most people are "used" to larger denominations, due to 200 and 500 Euros, and the U.S. needs to keep up, to gain revenue. It is also getting to expensive to print so many $100 bills as more and more security features are added to the $100 bill in each redesign it undergoes. Printing $500 bills is a good way to cheapen that issue, and if they were smart, they'd issue a $200 bill as well, to cut printing $100 bills down even more.


Quote:
on the consumer side its safer to just carry a check/plastic if you're going to make a large purchase and on the banking side, business is done electronically so there isn't a need for those big notes for which they were created for in the 1st place.


If you want your "plastic", then fine. But don't take away "my" paper, unless the plastic you're giving me is polymer $500 bills. Like I said, I have wanted to use larger denominations forever when buying a used truck from a private owner who prefers CASH over checks. Haven't you ever heard the term "Cash is King"? Well, that idea STILL flys with a LOT of people these days.


Quote:
The gov has had numerous problems trying to get the new 100s right and has spent a lot of money trying to get the process right, I have zero idea why they would even attempt such an endeavor with larger bills.


The government has got it down with the new $100 bills and new $500 bills would likely only have about the same amount of security features as the $100 bill, if not only a few more. So they likely would not have very many, if any printing problems with $500 bills.


Quote:
Its like bringing back a dinosaur.


I'm actually in favor of bringing back the dinosaurs if they could ever find a way to clone them.



Quote:
We need to go forward not backwards.


Reissuing larger denominations of currency, and coins IS going forward. Many other countries have already done it with half, $1 and $2 coins and some even with $5 coins I believe, and some countries either have, or are talking about $200 and/or $500 bills.


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nalaberong's Avatar
Canada
2805 Posts
 Posted 09/29/2013  11:23 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add nalaberong to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Switzerland still has their 1000-franc bill, worth over $1000 USD.
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Earle42's Avatar
United States
10034 Posts
 Posted 09/30/2013  12:51 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Earle42 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Being honest, I also feel your letter will get nowhere. But beyond the reasons listed in this thread, I believe it would be unconstitutional for the government to impose such dictatorial laws anyway. The government may impose laws that will insure safety, but not in areas such as this.

I know Obama did this to the light bulb industry under the alleged claim incandescent bulbs are dangerous for the environment. But I have a feeling if someone ever took this to court, this decision would not have a leg to stand on.

If I owned a vending machine company, it would be a scary thing for the government to be able to force me to make it accept something that they told me it had to. This is (or was) America, and still is on paper (and hopefully will be again in a few years).


edited for syntax error
How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash?
Download and read: Grading the graders
Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halves
https://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2
Edited by Earle42
09/30/2013 02:46 am
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nalaberong's Avatar
Canada
2805 Posts
 Posted 09/30/2013  01:22 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add nalaberong to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Luckily, the sanctity of today's vending machines will ensure a free America for decades to come.
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