Free Republic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The U.S. Mint is hoping that Martin Van Buren and Millard Fillmore can do what Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea couldn't - get Americans to use dollar coins. The Mint on Monday revealed the design of the new U.S. $1 coin, which will be issued in a series that will eventually include the faces of each U.S. president. It will release four new presidential dollars each year, starting with George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 2007.

Sacagawea couldn't do it. What about George? Seeking to increase the popularity of dollar coins, the legislator behind the successful state quarters will propose a similar program on Tuesday featuring portraits of former U.S. presidents on the dollar coin. Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., who originated the 50-state quarter program, along with Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., will propose starting the presidential dollars in 2006, featuring four presidents a year in the order in which they served. The coins could become popular collectors items, like the quarters, and might also encourage people to replace paper dollars with coins. Dollar coins would save...

Filed at 4:44 p.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) -- Gold dollar coins weigh down the pockets. They are costly to ship. And few Americans think they're better than the good old greenback. Dollar coins are a flop even before their third birthday, even after a $67.1 million, three-year marketing campaign by the U.S. Mint, a government report says. While initial public awareness generated by the advertising was strong, the new dollar coin, like the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin, ``has failed to achieve widespread use,'' the General Accounting Office reported Friday. According to July, 2001 statistics from the U.S. Mint, people...