Dollar Coins In The Wild

Published July 22, 2011 at 4:25 PM EDT

Thanks to Planet Money listeners for submitting these photos.

On today's Planet Money: More on the mountain of dollar coins sitting unused in government vaults.

We talk to self-described 'travel hackers' who use frequent-flier mile credit cards to buy dollar coins and pile up miles.

And we learn that the U.S. Mint — just today! — said it would stop letting people use credit cards to buy the coins.

Money quote from the mint:

The Mint has determined that this policy change is prudent due to ongoing activity by individuals purchasing $1 coins with credit cards, accumulating frequent flyer miles, and then returning coins to local banks.

Also on the show: Why Ecuador loves U.S. dollar coins.

Teacher Rebecca Kayes shows off the dollar coins she uses in Quito, Ecuador.

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Planet Money's Wall-To-Wall Dollar Coin Coverage:

$1 Billion That Nobody Wants

How Frequent Fliers Exploit A Government Program To Get Free Trips

Dollar Coin Loophole Closes For Frequent Fliers

Bill Would Kill Dollar Coin Program

Senators Call Dollar Coin Pileup 'Troubling'

Ecuador Needs Your Dollar Coins : Planet Money