Finding Sacajawea in Ecuador

[Tom Wayne]

Well-worn U.S. dollar coins can apparently be found everywhere in
Ecuador.

http://www.boston.com/travel/blog/2011/10/finding_sacajaw.html


"There's something disorienting about shopping in a country where the
American dollar is the legal tender. One of the pleasures of travel
has always been justifying impulse purchases by fibbing to ourselves
about the exchange rate. That still works in Europe, the United
Kingdom, and even in Canada. But it doesn't work in Ecuador, where the
country switched to the greenback as its official currency in 2000.
Mind you, the country issues some centavo coins, but the folding money
is all American fives, tens, and twenties. (They may use bigger bills,
but we haven't seen any.) But for the basic dollar, the Ecuadorans use
American coins. Susan B. Anthony doesn't seem any more popular here
than at home, but the Sacajawea dollar coins are ubiquitous. We only
see them at home when we get change from those bill changers on the
New Hampshire interstates, or when we go to Las Vegas. And the golden
Sacajawea coins are always shiny and crisp. But in Ecuador, the coins
work for a living and they become worn and smooth. In fact, in just
over a day, we've seen more Sacajawea dollars than we see in a year at
home. It makes us rethink the American refusal to switch from
Washingtons to coins. "

[Frank Provasek]

The Anthony and Sacagawea dollar coins have been counterfeited for use
in Ecuador.

http://www.smalldollars.com/dollar/add014.html