Should the United States start using more coin money instead of paper money?

Question

Should the United States start using more coin money instead of paper money?

Answer 1

Yes. The cost of maintaining the dollar bill in circulation is enormous. having dollar or two dollar coins would save us a lot. But people don't change habits easily.  

Answer 2

Most people agree that it should. But there have been a load of goofs along the way:

1. Abandonment of the half-dollar. It used to be a useful coin and would be even more so now due to inflation.

2. Retention of the penny. Merchants like it because it enables them to make clear that the add-on they are charging is sales tax and not profit. But it is really useless.

3. The abandonment of the silver dollar was necessary due to the rise in the dollar value of silver. But the two attempts at replacing it with a coin that looked too much like a quarter were pretty stupid.

The Canadians do very nicely without pennies, and with $1 and $2 coins. The 1-pound coin in British currency and the 1 and 2 euro coins in Europe are very handy.

Answer 3

no

Answer 4

It would be cheaper, since coins last longer than paper and are harder to counterfeit.  But I would rather carry paper money in my pocket than coins.  The way things are going it is a matter of time when all forms of money will slowly vanish yielding to debit and credit cards.