This is an old story but it's appearance today on the mainstream media ABC News is unusual
Dollar Coins Honoring Presidents Provide a History Lesson As Well As a Break From the Bill
Most folks can correctly name George Washington as the nation's first president. After that, things get tricky.
The U.S. Mint is hoping its new dollar coin series will help refresh some hazy memories of Adams, Jefferson and all the rest.
That could be a tall order, however, given the results of a poll the Mint commissioned to find out just how much knowledge Americans have about their presidents.
According to the telephone poll, conducted by the Gallup Organization last month, nearly all those questioned knew that Washington was the first president. However, only 30 percent could name Thomas Jefferson as the nation's third president, and memories of the other presidents and where they fit in was even more limited.
...
By having a rotating design on the new dollar coins, the Mint is hoping to keep interest high and avoid the famous flops of two previous dollar coins the Susan B. Anthony, introduced in 1979, and the Sacagawea, introduced in 2000.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3481119