Flipping coins

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

A new battle is brewing in Congress. This one is over a Republican proposal to replace the likeness of Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the dime with that of Ronald Reagan.

Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., has 89 co-sponsors for the "Ronald Reagan Dime Act," including more than a dozen from California, where the former president, who suffers from Alzheimer's, lives.

Meanwhile, Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., says he has 80 co-sponsors lined up for a bill to keep FDR on the dime. McGovern said he's not opposed to honoring Reagan - just not on the dime.

McGovern is right. Instead, let's put Reagan's likeness on another coin. The perfect candidates would be a revised $1 coin or to create a new $2 or even $5 coin. Whichever denomination is selected, the coin needs to be done right this time. Earlier versions were too easily mistaken for quarters. This time, make the coin in an octagon (8) or heptagon (7) shape that could easily be identified by look and feel. We need at least one of these coins. Design it the right way and honor Reagan too, but leave the dime alone. Our country doesn't need a divisive fight of this sort.