Even with the benefit of the penny, Mehren argued that prices were raised in five-cent increments—particularly for the coin-op business—when we more conservative margins would have worked for the companies to the benefit of consumers. Despite the lack of takers, Mehren continued his crusade well into the 1970s, advocating a two-and-a-half dollar bill, claiming that it was more efficient and made more economic sense to print a half-five dollar bills as the unpopular and considered unlucky to receive back in change Jefferson two-dollar had recently been discontinued in 1966—only to be reintroduced into circulation with a new design for the US bicentennial on the anniversary of the third American president’s birthday 13 April, 1743 (Old Style, 2 April). More from Weird Universe at the links above.
Sunday, 12 April 2026
dickeled and jimed (13. 343)
Though obviously never gaining traction in the vending machine business nor with the US mint—beverage distributors working out other forms of price-control and serving size, see previously, either through smaller portions or eating the margins to reduce competition, president of Squirt soda (see previously), one Edward Welsh Mehren, made a modest proposal in the late 1940s to introduce fractional coinage, in between the established US denominations of the nickel, dime and quarter (2½¢, etc) to provide some relief for consumers facing both the prospects of inflation and shrinkflation. 
Even with the benefit of the penny, Mehren argued that prices were raised in five-cent increments—particularly for the coin-op business—when we more conservative margins would have worked for the companies to the benefit of consumers. Despite the lack of takers, Mehren continued his crusade well into the 1970s, advocating a two-and-a-half dollar bill, claiming that it was more efficient and made more economic sense to print a half-five dollar bills as the unpopular and considered unlucky to receive back in change Jefferson two-dollar had recently been discontinued in 1966—only to be reintroduced into circulation with a new design for the US bicentennial on the anniversary of the third American president’s birthday 13 April, 1743 (Old Style, 2 April). More from Weird Universe at the links above.
Even with the benefit of the penny, Mehren argued that prices were raised in five-cent increments—particularly for the coin-op business—when we more conservative margins would have worked for the companies to the benefit of consumers. Despite the lack of takers, Mehren continued his crusade well into the 1970s, advocating a two-and-a-half dollar bill, claiming that it was more efficient and made more economic sense to print a half-five dollar bills as the unpopular and considered unlucky to receive back in change Jefferson two-dollar had recently been discontinued in 1966—only to be reintroduced into circulation with a new design for the US bicentennial on the anniversary of the third American president’s birthday 13 April, 1743 (Old Style, 2 April). More from Weird Universe at the links above.