Golden dollars and the Denver Mint

Enticed by rumors of 2001 golden dollars, I finally got down to the
Denver Mint gift store yesterday.

There was a single counter-top vending machine just inside the front
door. It was supposed to vend either GD's or California quarters. A
group of people were trying to work it, and the coin dispenser part had
just jammed. D'oh! Personally I think it was the Dave Detector.
Between repairs and numerous other people in the cramped store, it was a
long wait for a quiet moment to speak with the rather harried lady in
charge.

She told me that the quarters and dollars are both very popular. No,
they don't sell in bags or rolls. They used to sell bags, and they were
very very popular. Sales kept going up, and it got to be so much work
that management finally decided it was too much. So no more bulk coins
through them. Hmmm, what's wrong with this picture??

I can see it part way. The gift shop is actually a for profit operaton
run by a concessionaire. So non-profit bulk sales would be out of place
among the rest of the fancy coins and trinkets there. The sole vending
machine is their one concession to the concept of getting money at face
value from the Mint.

Because the machine was broken and there was a lull in business, she was
extra nice and sold me a hundred of each. Cash only, because that's how
the accounting for the vending machine is done. And they were merely
2000-Ds. Sigh. Well anyway I thought that the John Muir/Yosemite
quarters were nice.

--Dave