http://www.nytimes.com/library/review/012300us-currency-review.html

January 23, 2000

The New American Gold Standard

By THOMAS VINCIGUERRA

When it comes to their money, Americans hate -- pardon the pun -- change. The United States Mint is well aware of this, and is spending some $45 million to assure public acceptance of the "golden dollar," a new gold-colored coin that replaces the Susan B. Anthony silver dollar this month. The Mint expects, among other things, to circulate 100 million golden dollars through 4,000 Wal-Mart outlets and even slip them into 5,000 boxes of Cheerios. The new coin, carrying the image of Sacagawea, Lewis and Clark's Indian guide, is needed because stockpiles of Susan B. Anthonys are almost gone, and because nobody seemed to like them in the first place (they were easily mistaken for quarters). So the Treasury Department took a new approach -- a coin whose color and smooth edge should be appealing and easily distinguishable from its numismatic brethren.

The Associated Press Darice Sampson, model for the Sacagawea coin. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), January 26, 2000

Answers

Purely out of interest, just why are USA citizens so hostile to the concept of yellow metal coins?

If it's anything like the UK or European coins we've had for ages, it'll look much like new brass when new and old brass after a few months (ie they'll tarnish).

If the USA mint has invented a stainless brass I hope they've patented it: there should be a good market for doorknobs, etc. made out of it!

-- Nigel (nra@maxwell.ph.kcl.ac.uk), January 26, 2000.

Nigel, I can't speak for all Americans, but I am personally pissed at the federal reserve for stealing the gold we Americans had to back our money. Simply, for the courtesy of them printing worthless paper for us to rent, we gave them our gold. Just don't tell the rest of the planet, heh.

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), January 26, 2000.

Anyway, the idea of a fake gold coin rubs salt in an old wound.

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), January 26, 2000.

Nigel,

Plumbing fixture manufacturers are already making non tarnish brass. They use a plasma radiation type of process to do so and so to the surface and it does not tarnish. Watched the process on a tv show once. Good as fools gold.

I've been thinking of doing a little panning in my back yard. Live in the motherlode, CA. Old timers tell me the seasonal creek running through the yard is good for it. Lotta work though. Did it years ago for fun and always came up with a few flakes and a nugget or two.

-- Mark Hillyard (foster@inreach.com), January 26, 2000.

It's been a longstanding suspicion in certain circles that producing an acceptable non precious metal dollar-denominated coin is the key to getting the American Public to psychologically adjust to significant devaluation of U.S. currency and the diminishing or elimination of the dollar's role as currency of choice in world markets. Needless to say, the lessening or demise of U.S. power, military and economic security (read: our jobs)would follow.

The supposed ideal would be either a) a "basket" of 1st world currencies or b) a universal currency unit. There are those who would be overjoyed to see the dollar fall and the Euro replace it.

Obviously, there are the practical considerations-producing dollar bills is supposed to be expensive compared to comparable useful life of other currency bills. But there are other, larger geo-political reasons. In order for the NWO to progress, it has been decided that U.S. Citizens must give up their (relatively) high wages and standard of living. Oh yes, and their freedoms. Americans have far too much freedom according to a quote attributed to our elected leader WJC.

-- chairborne commando (what-me-worry@armageddon.com), January 26, 2000.

Don't worry, be happy. Appearance is everything, substance is nothing. The "gold" colored new dollar coin (actually, the proper term is "token", as it will be of base metal(s), but they aren't gonna say that) is just the latest of a long line of monetary deceptions by your rulers. Take a look at a "dime" or a "quarter". They appear "silvery", but if you look at the edge, you will see copper. The outside flat surfaces is an alloy that looks somewhat like silver, but isn't. Why did they bother, and not just make the "dimes" and "quarters" all copper or brass? Simple, the illusion of the coins being of REAL value (silver) would be broken.

The only fake stuff I like is Pamela Anderson's and Dolly Parton's headlights. :o)

-- A (A@AisA.com), January 26, 2000.

Dolly Partons headlites were very bright in 1967; were fake headlites available then?

-- JB (noway@jose.com), January 26, 2000.