Letters: The dollar coin By The Grand Rapids Press
on August 30, 2008 at 4:15 AM, updated August 30, 2008 at 4:28 AM

Put God out front

I read that Grand Rapids in one of four cities chosen to push dollar coins over dollar bills ("Paper or metal? Mint aims to change your change," Press, Aug. 21).

May I encourage everyone to boycott the new dollar coin. It does not have, "In God we Trust" inscribed on the "front" like other coins. It's on the edge where no one will notice it.

If someone gives you a dollar coin as change, refuse to take it and insist on a dollar bill and tell them why. Send the U.S. Mint a strong message: We insist that God stay on "the front" of our money!

Don't hide motto
Eylene James | Newaygo

I read the article about "In God We Trust" ("Dollar coins not 'Godless': 'In God We Trust' is there, you just need to look carefully," Press, Aug. 23).

Yes, it's there on the edge where it will likely wear off real soon. It happens to be our national motto, and can be used anywhere. You need a special glass to read it for many people. Why? Our children have a right to know what this means. Why hide it?

Change the change
Gene Boyd | Hudsonville

Why don't people like to carry a dollar coin? It's too big for what it's worth! A dollar will now buy what a dime used to buy, and a dime is worth about a penny. Quit making pennies and nickels, as well as quarters and those enormous 50-cent pieces (which are now worth about a nickel). Let the dime be the smallest coin.

Make a new 50-cent piece about the size of a nickel (but thin as a dime), because it's only worth a nickel! Make another coin the same diameter, but twice as thick, and that is what a $1 coin should be! Now make another coin the size of a quarter (thin as a dime) and call it $5, and one twice as thick would be a $10 coin. Pocket change. Quit making $1 bills and $5 bills.

Non-cash transactions could continue to be recorded down to the penny, but all cash transactions would simply be rounded off to the nearest dime. In a few years, we can shrink the coins again, and round off to the nearest dollar (the IRS lets you do that already). Oh! And, start making $500 and $1,000 bills, 'cause we're going to need them.