The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 27, July 4, 2004, Article 17

COINSTAR CURRENCY POLL

  To learn how non-numismatists feel about the issue of who
  to honor on U.S. currency, see the Coinstar company's
  annual national currency poll, which was published June 21.
  Abraham Lincoln won the popularity contest (although I
  wonder how that vote breaks down on Northern/Southern
  lines...)    A majority of those polled profess no opinion on
  portraits vs. other devices.  While a slight majority favors
  adding Reagan's portrait to our money, the numbers drop
  under 50% if adding Reagan means dropping a portrait
  already on our money.

  "The 7th annual Coinstar National Currency Poll, a consumer
  study that provides a look at Americans and their money,
  recently polled Americans on currency design-related topics
  and found that when considering all U.S. currency including
  both bills and coin, Americans named Abraham Lincoln
  (27.9%) as their favorite president currently featured on U.S.
  currency, followed by George Washington (25.2%) and
  John F. Kennedy (5.6%)."

  "Overall, 53.6% of respondents revealed that they have no
  opinion about featuring people versus moments in history or
  other types of images on currency, followed by 36.5% who
  are generally in favor of having people on U.S. currency.
  While 40% of respondents said they prefer presidential figures
  (vs. non-presidential figures), a statistically close 42.7% report
  they have no preference one-way or the other."

  To read the full press release, see: Press Release

  An article referring to the Coinstar poll appeared in the
  Bucks County (Pennsylvania) Courier Times.  Based on
  another section of the poll, "More than 60 percent of U.S.
  consumers say electronic payment options such as debit
  and credit cards will replace coins and paper bills in the
  next two decades..."

  "It's a reality we all do face, and it's something that has been
  addressed, especially more recently," said Joyce Harris, a
  spokeswoman for the U.S. Mint. "It's a definite challenge,
  and we're trying very hard now to invigorate people's
  excitement in coins - using them as well as collecting them."

  To keep money relevant to the public, the mint is banking
  on history.  There is simply too great a link between coins,
  currency and the country's past for them to suddenly cease
  to exist, according to Harris."

  "Along with a sense of history, mint representatives and coin
  collectors argue, real cash offers a convenience and
  practicality that debit and credit cards simply can't match."
  "Debit cards just aren't needed for those countless tiny
  purchases we make everyday."

  "Along with the practical, coins and currency also have a
  tactile advantage, according to U.S. Mint Public Affairs
  Director Michael White.

  "People still like the tangible aspect of coinage and currency
   - the crisp dollar pulled out of a wallet or the spare change
   clinking in a pocket,"  White said. "It gives them a sense of
   control."

  To read the full article, see: Full Article

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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