Yet another story about how yet another alternative to the good ol' dollar bill - the gold Sacagawea coin - is a big flop. Counting the Susan B. Anthony coin and the two-dollar bill, that's three failed attempts to convince people that the buck should head off into the sunset. With any luck, it'll be the last one.

I understand all the reasons why coins are preferred: They last longer and they save the Treasury money. The public doesn't care. I say the only way to get people to give up the greenback is to actually stop printing $1 bills. I'll only choose the coins if I have no choice. It's simple - given the option, I prefer paper in my wallet to metal in my pocket. I don't like carrying dollar coins and you can't make me.

(OK, my inner numismatist still digs the old Eisenhower dollar coins for their sheer size. I'd love to find a Bicentennial dollar coin to join the 1976 quarters and half-dollars that I have hoarded away. But that's the only exception I'll make.)