Americans put their two cents in

While a majority of Americans appear to believe that electronic payment methods will eventually replace more familiar forms of money, 42 percent of those polled by Bellevue, Wash.-based Coinstar Inc., which has some 8,500 coin-counting machines in US supermarkets, want the federal government to introduce more denominations of both paper currency and coins. The favorite choice was the creation of a $5 coin. Other suggested coins included 4 cents, 15 cents, 20 cents, 75 cents, 99 cents, and $2. The most requested bill denomination: $25.

Many Americans have embraced the new coins recently minted, including the Sacagawea dollar coin and the latest additions to the 50-state quarter program. Not surprisingly, 70 percent of Americans said they are in favor of new currency designs, according to the poll. Here's how those surveyed responded when asked asked who or what would they like to see featured on the face of a new coin:

US President 30%

Historical figure/non-President 21%

Event in US history 19%

Inventor/Scientist 9%

Social activist 4%

Sports personality 3%

Inside the coin jar

If you're like most people, you may keep a stash of coins somewhere. In fact 3 out of 4 Americans say they accumulate coins at home, according to Coinstar. An estimated $7 billion in coins sit in peoples' homes, with the average stash somewhere between $30 and $50. A full one-gallon coin jar contains $160.95 on average; 1 quart, $40.24.

(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Publishing Society