Here is an idea for a forever coin, which marries the sister hobbies of coin and stamp collecting. Carrying all of the required coin writing, the obverse is representative of the United States Mint while the reverse is representative of the Postal System. Like a Trade Dollar, it carries no numerical domination, the value is FOREVER, based on the first class rate.

It is not simply for buying stamps. It is money just like quarters, dimes, nickels etc. It can also be spent over the counter. At 32 mm, it will not fit into a vending machine. It will go up in value just like forever stamps. It is something inexpensive that you could carry around as a good luck charm, makes a great stocking stuffer and in a pinch before payday, since it is money, it could come in handy if you are just a little short. It's easily replaced, just like buying a stamp-but you can't spend a stamp even though it has a value.

The edge can be like the 50 cent euro coin with wider reeds making it appear like perforation. This coin will be added to coin sets at face value plus costs. Both the Mint and Postal symbols are quite beautiful and would make a very nice FOREVER coin. There has never been a fractional coin that goes up in denomination.

To read the complete article, see:
Q&A: Did the postal situation of the 1850s affect the introduction of the three-cent denomination?(http://news.coinupdate.com/qa-did-the-postal-situation-of-the-1850s-affect-the-introduction-of-the-three-cent-denomination/)

Wayne adds: