I don't know how relevent discussions re coins are to SI, but since they have been mentioned here recently, together with comments on the U.S. dollar coin, here is my experience:
The so-called "golden dollars" are almost unavailable where we live. My own bank simply refuses to carry them, and won't even place an order for them for a customer unless they order lots (I think they told me $1000!). They only ones they have are those they somehow acquire as loose change, and there are usually less than 10 in the entire bank. The bank tellers say they never give them out, no one asks for them, and they don't have spots in their cash drawers for them. When I point out that if they gave them out, they would be accepted, and that everyone I have ever dealt out a dollar coin to liked it, the tellers just shrug. I have never been given a "golden dollar" in change and have never seen one in a cash drawer. I have never seen anyone besides myself in possession of one! It is very disappointing. Somehow between them, the U.S. Mint and the banking system have royally screwed up plans for introducing this coin in the U.S. I trust the Euro coins will do better, starting Tuesday. HARRY WYETH
