Reply #17: What do we do with the Quarter if the Nickel is abolished? [View All]

[happyslug]

How do you make change? if the change is 30 Cents? That may be three dimes, or one quarter and nothing (remember this is assuming the Nickel is gone). Thus if we get rid of the Nickel we have to decide to get rid of the Quarter, do to a lack of an ability to make change, or get rid of the dime, all change would be to the nearest quarter dollar (i.e. 25cents, 50 cents, 75 cents change NOTING in between, for the Nickel and dime will be gone).

Thus we have to make a decision, and congress does NOT like making decision it thinks will be unpopular with people. The best choice would be to get rid of the Quarter, keep the Dime and come put with new versions of the Half Dollar and Dollar Coins (and get rid of the One Dollar Bill). The new half Dollar could be solid Copper about the size of the Nickel, but thiner, and the new Dollar about the Size of the Half Dollar but thiner. The dime will be coin kept for the transition, while all other coins are retired (almost no one used the Half Dollar and Dollar coins today, so retire them and start anew). An alternative would be to keep the present Dollar Coin, but make the Half Dollar half its size in diameter and thickness (To avoid confusion).

The other alternative would be to keep the Quarter, as a transitional piece, and do the same as above, but no dime, the Quarter would be the smallest coin in value. The problem here is the Quarter is to close to the size of the Dollar and any smaller half dollar coin. Doable, but the dime as the smallest coin is nicer as the coin of transition.

A change is needed, but Congress will wait to the last minute to do the change. Right now the Zinc cent is worth .6 cents of Zinc but costs the US Treasury 1.67 US Cents to make (Including the price of the Zinc in the cent). The Nickel is worse, it has 7.3 cents worth of Copper and Nickel, but costs 9.5 cents to make (including the price of the Copper and Nickel in the coin). In simple terms it is costing the Government almost a dime for a coin whose face value is Five Cents and Metal Contents is 7.3 cents.