Sure would make the $1 US coin easy to distinguish from the US 50-cent piece which is nearly the same size.
Oh, for the non-USA coin collectors out there, the US Mint is currently making coins commemorating all the States's entry into the Union. Featuring the state seal on each coin. Legal tender. The Northeastern states, being first in the Union are now available. The 50 coins will be made in batches and the entire 50 state set available in, I believe 2005.Actually, the 50 cent piece is quite a bit bigger. It's strange how we don't make the coin sizes in order of value. The nickle is bigger than the dime. The one dollar coin is almost the same shape as the quarter, and when you're searching in your pocket with your hand you can't really tell the difference that much. They did facilitate that by making the dollar coin have smooth edges compared to the quarter's ribbed edges. Part of the favor for the bill as opposed the coin is that you may not want coins weighing down your pocket, but a guy will always have his wallet with him because it has his drivers license.
And about the 50 State Quarters Program, they're releasing 5 each year, (one every 10 weeks) so it will conclude in 2009. The ones out so far are Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York. North Carolina is next. (And they would be so presumptuous as to put "First Flight" on their license plates and now their coin when the Wright brothers developed the plane and lived their whole lives in Ohio! . . . maybe we'll put astronauts on ours. More astronauts have come from Ohio than any other state. John Glenn was even our senator.
)
