[television is just wrong]

I agree. I don't like it either. Why do we have to keep changing everything???

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I'll go for it. Just don't dream up another stupid $1 coin.

[dmz]

Uhhh, because change is the natural of order of things?

Oh, I'm sorry, you were talking about the design of the nickel.

[null and void]

Why do we have to keep changing everything???

Because, as a people, we drive the change in the world.

The concept of "New and Improved" started as a uniquely American one.

[RS]

"I agree. I don't like it either. Why do we have to keep changing everything???"

Exactly ! At some point we will have 52 different designs of the quarter in circulation, and the idiots making change don't even know enough to realize Bush on a $200 bill is not valid...
The flood of foreign coins the size of quarters has just begun, I've already been passed Philipine and Columbian, and of course Canadian.

[Conservative til I die]

Because our money sucks, design-wise. And our country has a rich, rich (no pun intended 2x) history of redesigning our coins and currency. It's time boys and girl for the obligatory post of beautiful American coinage and paper currency:


1922 St. Gauden's $20 Double Eagle (obverse).

Same coin, reverse


1944 Mercury Dime (obverse)


1877 Indian Head Cent (obverse)

Same coin, reverse


1942 Walking Liberty Half-Dollar (obverse)

Same coin, reverse


1910 $2.50 Gold Quarter Eagle (obverse)

Same coin, reverse

Next the paper money.

[Conservative til I die]

1901 $10 US Note, a/k/a the Bison Note (front)

Same note, back


1934 $10,000 Federal Reserve Note


1896 $5 US Note, from the Education Series (front)

Same note, back


1922 $20 Gold Certificate (front)

Same note, back


1882 $10,000 Gold Certificate, *reproduction*


1899 $5 Silver Certificate (front)

1899 $1 Silver Certificate (front)