No, not any more than the quarter is for vending machines. Because it is a coin the vending machines had to be modified to accept them, which most are. Like Dave said in the post below, it is about cost. The $1 has a life expectancy of only 18 months in circulation whereas a coin has a life expectancy of 30 years. The coin cost more to produce but is cheaper over the long term. The BEP published it recently (a year or so ago) printed 1.4 billion in paper notes the majority were $1 bills to replace worn out notes. At 6¢ per note the cost was astronomical. So as a solution the US Government has been trying to introduce (or REintroduce) the $1 coin. The problem is that cash registers do not have a place for the coin, and the American people have not 'warmed up' to the coin. I believe that was the case with the 1£ coin, initially (many be still). As I understand the BEP has been looking at the option of using polymer like many other countries are using. Australia was the first to use the substrate and it has proven to hold up after 10 years of circulation. Also, it is difficult to counterfeit, operates more easily than the 'paper' notes we currently use in vending and change machines, is cheaper to produce than coinage and weighs less (a concern in handling large volumes). Personally I think the polymer option is the best, and possibly using polymer in the other denominations as well, track records of currencies in other countries prove out the viability.

Also, the term "Amero" dollar has been popping up more and more. Who knows 'if' or 'when' that will come to pass.

The issue may be a moot point as we may be using Won before long anyway and Wal-Mart was going to the barter sysyem with Fruit-of-the-Loom