I was just reading about the "life of currency"

the FEW times I used an SBA to pay someone, I explained it was a dollar coin.

Thanks for the tip, I didn't know about the Mint's program to get them into wider circulation.

I've been withdrawing $200 in dollar coins from my credit union maybe 8 times a year since 2005 or so. I usually leave home with 5 or so in my pocket. I generally pay cash for anything under $10, so they come in handy.

Perhaps a fourth of the cashiers I give them to spend a moment verifying they're legitimate, but I've never had one rejected. Usually they're excited to receive them. I'm sure you've also seen cashiers dig into their pockets for a $1 bill and buy the one I gave them. And when I give them as a hand-paid tip, I too always mention that they're dollars.

Ultimately, they're just a coin. But they're a lot better than $1 bills, for both consumers and the government.