The government would save $318 million a year in "present value dollars"
- equivalent to some $1.3 billion in "cash flow" dollars per year over the
next 30 years. These savings were projected in a report to Congress by the
General Accounting Office, looking at the cost of producing coins (which last
about 30 years) versus dollar bills (which wear out in less than 17 months).
Commuters will save time, boarding more quickly when dropping a coin in
a farebox than feeding a bill into a bill acceptor. City transit systems will
save millions of dollars now spent handling paper currency in their cash rooms.
Cash transactions will be faster at convenience stores, fast food restaurants,
etc. with a dollar coin instead of a bill.
The visually handicapped could make small purchases without fear of
accidentally spending a large bill or being short-changed.
Less weight in the pocket will be needed for users of parking meters, coin
operated washing machines, pay phones and vending machines, as a single $1 coin
replaces 4 quarters.
High denomination coins have proven successful in Canada, England,
Germany, Japan and numerous other countries. In each case, the paper bill of same
denomination was phased out.