Poll: Americans Want to Keep Dollar Bill

In this undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Mint, a dollar coin is seen. An AP-Ipsos poll found that three-fourths of the people in the United States oppose replacing the dollar bill with a one dollar coin, and people are evenly split as to whether there should be both dollar bills and dollar coins. (AP Photo/U.S. Mint) (AP)

"But I think dollar bills are part of the economic system," he said, "and they work fine."

The presidential coins will be the 14th dollar coin series produced by the Mint going back to 1794. The Susan B. Anthony replaced the Eisenhower dollar in 1979.

Before the Eisenhower dollar's introduction in 1971, there was a gap of 36 years when the Mint did not produce a dollar coin after the last Peace dollar was minted in 1935.

The public can start getting the Washington dollars on Thursday from commercial banks that have placed orders with the Federal Reserve, which handles coin distribution for the Mint.

U.S. Mint Director Edmund C. Moy said he was encouraged by the initial demand for the new coin. The Fed has ordered 300 million Washington dollars so far.

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AP Manager of News Surveys Trevor Tompson, News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius and economics writer Martin Crutsinger contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Ipsos: http://www.ap-ipsosresults.com

U.S. Mint's dollar coin program: http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/$1coin/