Money Alternate Coin Shapes

**Rain Man** · 06-16-2009, 07:34 PM

Coins are pretty much round, unless you count that 20-sided Susan B. Anthony or whatever. They're also pretty much flat. Flat round disks.

Why is this? I see no reason other than to make a big surface for a presidential portrait.

Why can we not have coins that serve other purposes with their shapes? For example, maybe a half-dollar could have the shape and texture of a nail file. Maybe a penny could be spherical and double as a marble for kids. A dollar coin could be six-sided so people could use it for dice (six results) instead of flipping a coin (two results). Maybe a quarter could be shaped like a little tiny cup so people could use it as a shot glass. A nickel could be long and narrow with a toothpick at one end and a bottle opener on the other.

Personally, I think we're losing a lot of functionality by sticking with this antiquated "flat disk" philosophy.

View Poll Results: What's your thinking on the coin shape issue?
Heck, yeah, let's make coins useful for stuff besides currency.	2	13.33%
No, you don't want the feds to put the dice and toothpick companies out of business.	2	13.33%
Instead of coins, we should just have bar codes on our heads.	6	40.00%
Why are coins not mint-flavored?	5	33.33%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

06-16-2009, 07:34 PM	Topic Starter
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3018491 VARSITY	Alternate Coin Shapes Coins are pretty much round, unless you count that 20-sided Susan B. Anthony or whatever. They're also pretty much flat. Flat round disks. Why is this? I see no reason other than to make a big surface for a presidential portrait. Why can we not have coins that serve other purposes with their shapes? For example, maybe a half-dollar could have the shape and texture of a nail file. Maybe a penny could be spherical and double as a marble for kids. A dollar coin could be six-sided so people could use it for dice (six results) instead of flipping a coin (two results). Maybe a quarter could be shaped like a little tiny cup so people could use it as a shot glass. A nickel could be long and narrow with a toothpick at one end and a bottle opener on the other. Personally, I think we're losing a lot of functionality by sticking with this antiquated "flat disk" philosophy.
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