Referencing the success of dollar coin initiatives in Europe and Canada, Neils said the adjustment from the bill to the coin, which costs 10 cents to produce, makes economic sense.

“The average life span of a dollar bill is less than three to five years, and it costs more to produce,” he said. “A coin can last 150 years and still look nice. I can show you some silver dollars that are over 120 years and still look like they were made yesterday.”

David Cowan, facilities services director at Minnesota State University, said the 48 meters on campus don’t accept dollar coins because they only hold a maximum of 50 cents (30 minutes) at a time. He was unsure, however, if the campus’ Lot 21 pay-box was configured for dollar coins.

“That’s something we’ll have to look into,” he said.

The vending-machine industry, which relies heavily on coins and dollar bills, was already preparing for the shift in currency in 2000, when the much-publicized Sacagawea coin was released.

“The machines had to be programmed to accept the dollar coins,“ said Chuck Tuttle, vending general manager at Hermel Candy Co. of Mankato. “But the new coin has the same electronic signature as the Sacagawea coin. A lot of our change machines give out the dollar coins now, too.”

Ultimately, Neils said, until the government halts production of the dollar bill altogether, the dollar coin will remain a commodity for collectors.

“People won’t give up (the dollar bill) until they have to,” Neils said. “Unless the government makes the plunge of all or nothing, it’s not going to happen. There’s always going to be resistance until there is a physical change.”