The Dime?

The Reaganistas are at it again; this time to replace the face of the dime from FDR to Reagan. I'm not sure what the thinking is: the most obvious reason is that Reagan is the anti-FDR and/or Reagan's legacy is reflected by a cheap coin.

Look. We have these presidents on these coins:

• PENNY = Lincoln (Republican)
• NICKEL = Jefferson (Democrat-Republican)
• DIME = FDR (Democrat)
• QUARTER = Washington (Federalist)
• HALF-DOLLAR = JFK (Democrat)
• DOLLAR = Eisenhower (Republican)

That's a breakdown of:

• Democrats: 2.5
• Republicans: 2.5
• Federalists: 1

What we *need* is not another Republican (which would upset this tight balance), but, if anything, a Whig. Tyler should work. And put him on the nickel, so we keep parity.

FDR should have the dime because he is associated with that currency, more than any other of the current hosts are associated with theirs and, to be honest, any other president can be associated with any of the currencies. The dime is associated with FDR because he began, in 1938, "The March of Dimes" to combat polio (from which he suffered). They don't like this whole thing one bit.

Polio crippled FDR but rose above that to become the most popular president since, well, since his other currency predecessors (Mr. Penny, Nickel, and Quarter). Polio is part of the FDR biography and the disease is almost wiped out.

Maybe if the "March of Nickels" were started to eradicate Alzheimer's - of which Regan is as much of a poster child as FDR is for polio - then we can kick ol' Jeffy out.

Moreover, Ike is on the dollar. Why?! Even then, Ike is a thinking man's Reagan (both genial grandpas; Ike was president in the 50s, Regan thought it still was the 50s; both conservative icons) - Ike was President of Columbia University after he left being Supreme Commander of the Entire Planet. I don't see Reagan filling the 'college president' mold (or supreme commander, now that we mention it).

If the Reaganistas want RR to be on a coin, replace Ike.

P.S. After looking at the mint page, I see that Ike is no longer on the Dollar (he was 'til 1978 when Carter got weirded-up and put Susan B. Anthony on there; now the only dollar in circulation is the Sacagawea golden-dollar. So put RR on the dollar; be my guest).