New York – The newest $1 coin, bearing the likeness of George Washington, was rolled out Thursday, with the U.S. Mint hoping Americans will want to buy George.
Commuters bustled past the unveiling at a Grand Central Terminal event replete with marching music and a George Washington re-enactor. Crowds of collectors and the curious lined up in the station’s cavernous, chandelier-adorned Vanderbilt Hall to exchange their paper Georges for metallic ones.
“I think it’s cool because we get to see a coin with the first president on it,” said 7-year-old Jack Garbus, an avid coin collector and second-grader from Valhalla, N.Y., who was taking advantage of a school snow delay to be at the event.
The new coin is going into circulation around the country just in time for next week’s celebration of the first president’s birthday.
$70 million Supply of dollar coins held by reserve banks, about 12 months’ demand
$110 million Supply of dollar coins held by the U.S. Mint, about 19 months’ demand
