gridlore: Doug looking off camera with a grin (US Flag)
[personal profile] gridlore
Most Americans have noticed that the US Treasury has gone mad for new and improved currency designs over the last decade or so. The biggest changes have been in our paper currency; which I'm told are so profound that some people refuse to accept as real money. Fine give it to me.

But change has also come to our coins. Look closely, and the penny and nickel both sport new looks. Of course everyone has seen all the state quarters. I like variety in the money. I just wish ours was as useful as Canada's currency. Not once during our time in Montreal was I ever confused by the currency, or overburdened with Loonies and Toonies.

I just like typing Loonies and Toonies. I'd sit here and chant it, but Kirsten would kill me, and we're having chili tonight. I don't want to die before that.

In what I hope is a precursor to eliminating the venerable dollar bill, the US Mint is releasing a series of Presidential dollar coins. Makes me wonder if the eventual $2 coin will have Vice-Presidents on them. But still, it's a neat series. I have one of them in front of me right now.

William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States. The oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the United States Declaration of Independence. Brilliant military commander, frontiersman, scholar, lectured Simón Bolívar on the importance of democracy, and dropped dead after 32 days in office. Of pneumonia. Which he got by reading his two-hour inaugural address on a wet, cold, miserable day without coat or hat. It should be noted he was 68 at this time. He was almost immediately taken ill, and his only real act as President was to call a special session of Congress. Big whoop. He died April 4th, 1841, making John Tyler the President. Tyler, a political hack, was one of the leading causes of the eventual Civil War.

If this moron had said "You know, it's freezing and spitting rain, I'll forgo the speech and just pass it out to the press, let's get to the White House and warm up" things might have been very different.

But President for 32 days? Put him on a nickel.

Date: 16 Jan 2011 20:13 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jursamaj.livejournal.com
Wait... you're saying an *advantage* of coins is that they make you want to spend them? :)

Date: 16 Jan 2011 20:54 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gridlore.livejournal.com
Yep! Economic stimulus as you walk!

Profile

gridlore: Doug looking off camera with a grin (Default)
Douglas Berry

October 2023

S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
2223 2425262728
293031    

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Aug. 10th, 2025 03:47 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios