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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2734 Posts |
As much as I like the 5¢ Nickel, it might be more 'dignified' to let it exit from circulation still in its 1866 composition (and replace it with a cupro-nickel Half-Dime) rather than change it to zinc nickel-plated steel. Just my 2¢ uh, 5¢ worth!  PS: What would they put on the Half-Dime? It wouldn't be bound by law to have Monticello on the reverse, because it's not a "Nickel". It seems to me that they would have to put "Five Cents/5 Cents" in really large letters to avoid people mistaking it for a 10¢ 'full' Dime.... Edited by DNA
09/29/2008 11:59 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
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rather than change it to zinc-plated steel.
The US Mint would never use zinc plated steel again after the horrible results of the 1943 cents. The most likely candidate would be nickel plated steel, just like Canadian nickels. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
Oops, my bad, I meant to say 'nickel-plated steel', not zinc!  I fixed that post, thanks! I was thinking about some of my rusty 1943 steel 'Wheaties' when I was typing that! (and how I'd never want 'nickels' to be steel core, even with Nickel plating, that makes the proposed half-dime sound almost good!) Edited by DNA
09/30/2008 12:00 am
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Moderator
 United States
188440 Posts |
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it might be more 'dignified' to let it exit from circulation still in its 1866 composition I rather like that sentiment!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
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The 5¢ Nickel is our last circulating coin that has the same size, weight and composition as it did 100+ years ago (back to 1866, to be exact! Close, same composition and weight as the original, but the size is slightly different. Today's five cent is slightly larger in diameter and slightly thinner. |
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Moderator
United States
188440 Posts |
That is something I never knew. According to the US Coin Facts, the diameter changed between the Shield (20.5mm) and Liberty "V" Nickel (21.2mm). Is this correct? (I really need to start keeping a Red Book with me again). I need to look closer at my 7070 to see if I can actually perceive the difference or not.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Yes those sizes are correct.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I don't think a Half Dime is a good idea at all. Half Dimes would only help symbolize the shrinking US Dollar even more. In the olden days when these early US coins ( Half Cents, large cents, two and Three Cent pieces etc. ) were circulating, men and women kept change in little purses and held them close and safe as the contents were quite valuable. Today the "take a penny - give a penny" dishes at convenient store counters have nickels and dimes and sometimes even quarters laying in them amidst the worthless pennies. Don't get me wrong, I love the nickels more than any other circulating coin but with the value of the dollar, the only thing change is worth anymore is for collecting or holding up people longer in the checkout line in the store. It's time to make the dime the new penny, change the design of it, and do away with the cent and nickel. Just think how many worthless Half Dimes will get lost in the washing machines or roll under counters? I'll still stop to pick up a penny on the sidewalk, but not many people do anymore. I guess there will be a lot of Half Dimes laying around for me to get some exercise if they make them. Edited by TNG
09/30/2008 7:48 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2589 Posts |
if this actually happens, be prepared to have early Jefferson nickel prices skyrocket since you wont be able to find them in circulation anymore |
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Valued Member
United States
52 Posts |
In my honest opinion, if they go to a Half Cent, they need to do away with presidents on it. I for one (and theres probally quite a few who agree with me), prefer coins with lady liberty or the shield on them. One of my favorite coins I own, is a 5 cent piece with the shield on it my granddad gave me. I'm just tired of seeing presidents on coins. |
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Valued Member
United States
80 Posts |
Not knowing much about metal alloys, etc. but couldn't they just change the metal the nickel is made of like they did with the penny, from copper to zinc penny. As much as I don't appreciate the zinc penny, there wasn't much fuss about the change and it costs considerably less to make. I agaree that if we get a smaller coin, it will just be a nusance.
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Moderator
United States
188440 Posts |
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but couldn't they just change the metal the nickel is made of like they did with the penny Yes they could. As Biokemist said above, "The most likely candidate would be nickel plated steel, just like Canadian nickels." |
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
I'm not taking this proposal seriously. Looks to me like a bunch of look-what-I-proposed statements to make the politician in question look good to his constituency.
On the other hand, why not shrink all of our coins while we're at it? Maybe the dollar would get down to a size that the populace would use? Start with a quarter-sized dollar coin (but thicker than a quarter so that vending machines wouldn't be fooled by the lesser-value, thinner coins) and then knock the rest of 'em down. Make 'em of a composition that could be buried in the ground and not start to disintegrate after a few months, as the current abominable one-cent coins do ...
Of course, then we'd have to have an over-sized two-dollar coin to be reviled and minted in the billions to keep Congress happy ...
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Moderator
United States
188440 Posts |
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I'm not taking this proposal seriously. Looks to me like a bunch of look-what-I-proposed statements to make the politician in question look good to his constituency. You are probably right. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
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"...the diameter changed between the Shield (20.5mm) and Liberty "V" Nickel (21.2mm)" Good Catch! I don't have any Shield nickels, myself.... It would be hard to tell this slight of a diameter difference without holding them rim-to-rim! Well, OK, then, same size, weight and comp. since 1883 (not bad for 'history' value, because that's the 'racketeer' Nickel!)  Quote:
"I'm not taking this proposal seriously. Looks to me like a bunch of 'look-what-I-proposed' statements to make the politician in question look good to his constituency." I couldn't agree more with this sentiment, but if enough of the other politicians think it would 'look good to their constituents' to vote for this proposal, well there goes the Nickel!  Just look at H.R. 258 [108th]: American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bil...ill=h108-258Rep. Eric Cantor locked the 'Monticello' design on the back of the 2006-up Nickel  , just to make his constituents happy (and for tourism, because Monticello is in his district!) I want the Bison on the back instead!  Edited by DNA
10/01/2008 7:04 pm
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Replies: 58 / Views: 3,829 |
First Page
Posted 09/29/2008 9:23 pm
