Portland to promote new $1 coin

Published 5:00 am Saturday, August 16, 2008

PORTLAND — The Sacagawea dollar coin was a dud. So how about Millard Fillmore? Maybe a Calvin Coolidge?

The U.S. Mint’s two tries to introduce a dollar coin in recent years tanked. But they’re trying again, this time with coins honoring the presidents, and Portland is one of four cities picked for a promotional campaign.

The silver-colored Susan B. Anthony dollar was easily mistaken for a quarter.

The gold-colored dollar coin honoring Sacagawea didn’t do any better.

Now the mint is betting on America’s greening conscience to make a new effort succeed.

“With the $1 Presidential Coin, every man, woman and child will make a personal statement about the money they spend,” says GolinHarris, the Chicago PR firm hired to market the idea.

“The coin is 100 percent recyclable and lasts for decades, offering consumers — and Mother Earth — tangible benefits that are especially relevant today.”

Mint strategy is to promote the coin in the four cities by focusing on “coin intensive transactions,” such as vending machines, public transport, fast food outlets and giant retailers.

The other three cities for the promotion are Charlotte, N.C., Austin, Texas, and Grand Rapids, Mich.