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The Evolving Face Of Our Country's Cash

LAS VEGAS, Nevada –Aug. 24, 2000 --The U.S. Treasury Department has finished giving a face lift to several former presidents.

Many who routinely deal with money say public opinion has generally been favorable toward the nation's new currency -- including the $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills and the $1 gold coin (which is named for its color, not its content).

The gold dollar, featuring the teenager who, from 1804-1806, assisted the Lewis and Clark expedition cross the Northern Great Plains to the Pacific Ocean and back, replaces the unpopular Susan B. Anthony dollar -- which people did not like because it looked too much like a quarter, according to officials.

Steve Ellis, Harrah's casino manager, said the new currency has not had much of an impact on the casino. He has only seen one gold dollar and the slot machines are accepting the new paper money without a problem.

"Our major issue was getting the technology up to speed," he said. "(The slots) had to have a new (computer) chip. Cost-wise, it was relatively inexpensive (to make the change), but it was very time consuming, labor-wise."

JCM American Corp. of Las Vegas, which makes the equipment that validates the bills that go into slot machines, created new software to accommodate the new money.

Nikki Phillips, a spokeswoman for JCM, said the changeover did not pose a problem. "We do it all the time for all different countries."

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