KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2025 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

2022 quarter may reveal just how important coins are anymore

A growing number of us are choosing to use credit or debit cards or options like Zelle or PayPal when we buy something.

That’s increased the debate about what kind of role paper money and coins are going to play in the not-too-distant future. Will the phrase, "a penny for your thoughts" sound even more outdated than it already does?

The U.S. Mint is releasing a special issue series of quarters that may test just how important coins are going forward. What is standing out to some observers is that one of the new quarters will feature George Washington facing right rather than left.

So how important are these coin designs? And how much does changing the design of traditional items affect our perception of them?

To find out, The Show spoke with James Bowie, a teaching professor in the department of sociology at Northern Arizona University. 

More stories from KJZZ

Steve Goldstein was a host at KJZZ from 1997 to 2022.