[Petronski]

You must have really hated the quarter thirty-some years ago, because it was worth more than a dollar coin would be today.

If you think a dollar is "high value," please let me know where you do your shopping.

[ArrogantBustard]

In the United States, I routinely carry $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills, and find them useful in regular commerce. A small handful of fractional dollar coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters) round things out.

In Canada, the smallest bill is $5 (Canadian); in UK the smallest bill is 5GBP. Even though I try to play the game, over there, and actually use the 1 and 2 (dollar|pound) coins, I always end up with a pocketfull of heavy coins, in order to go about ordinary daily commerce. Theorizing about the glorious wonders of $1 and $2 coins falls apart in the face of actual use.