I have to admit, it was a first.
A new line of dollar coins was introduced in 2000, and I was actually given one as change the other morning.
A photographer and I were wrapping up an assignment in downtown Wilkes-Barre. We stopped at a Turkey Hill, the news one-- the Taj Mahal of Turkey Hills, to gas up. Photographer Jason worked the pump and I went inside to visit the porcelain conveniences. I grabbed a couple of bagel sandwiches and walked to the cash register. I paid with a $ 10 bill. The clerk opened the register and realized she was short on $ 1 bills. She gave me what she had and supplemented with one of those golden dollar coins. She apologized. I didn't care. Paper and metal are worth the same. I didn't examine it, and dropped it in my pocket.
After 17 years in circulation, it was the first time I had received one in change. Not a big deal, but odd.
Like most Americans, I prefer the dollar bill over the dollar coin. I was in another Turkey Hill, in another county, getting an early morning cold drink after a gym visit. I made sure that dollar coin was the first thing out of my pocket and in to the clerk's hand.
Farewell, dollar coin.