Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin • Hacker News Board

Re: Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin

#191

Post by aftbit » Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 2:22 PM UTC

kemiller2002 wrote: post #187

I'm writing this from a Mac when I ask this. Has Apple actually created anything that could arguably have changed the world? Resistant crops, the Cray, mobile refrigeration all changed the world. My iPhone's nice, but it's not exactly on the same level. Is there anything from Apple that I'm missing?

The iPhone absolutely changed the world. I agree - it is not on the level of the green revolution or refrigeration. It still led to one of the largest paradigm shifts in end user computing, taking it from the desk or table at work or home into the hand, everywhere, for everyone.

Re: Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin

#192

Post by nosrepa » Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 2:22 PM UTC

redeux wrote: post #70

rkomorn wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. $1 coins aren't super common but they're not so odd that someone wouldn't believe it's real. There are also collector-oriented coins but pretty much none of those are actually intended for use. Edit: fun fact, there are also $2 bills (but those are way more rare and someone might not believe it's real).

$2 bills aren’t rare at all. You can walk into your local bank and get a stack of them anytime, if you’d like.

Strip clubs also commonly use 2 dollar bills.

Re: Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin

#193

Post by butlike » Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 2:23 PM UTC

microtherion wrote: post #170

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The single biggest problem with $1 coins, is that they are of similar size to quarter-dollar coins. 26.50 mm (1.043 in) - $1.00 24.26 mm (0.955 in) - $0.25 They feel almost identical, in your pocket, and the $1 coin is small enough to get stuck in many vending machines. I am not exactly sure of the reason that the mint is so resistant to making the coins a bit bigger (they used to be).

Another, NSFW, problem with $1 coins is that their universal adoption would lead to a lot of bruised strippers.

"Making it rain" turning into "making it hail"

Re: Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin

#194

Post by Suffocate5100 » Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 2:23 PM UTC

themafia wrote: post #28

Why Steve Jobs and not the Apple II? Or even the iPhone? Alternatively why not Seymour Cray instead of the Cray-1? Or why not use one side for the inventor and the other side for the invention? Jobs sitting there in an empty field just throws the whole set for me.

I would've been happy with the picture of Steve and Woz in the garage.

Re: Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin

#195

Post by amelius » Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 2:23 PM UTC

hirvi74 wrote: post #177

amelius wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not the inventors of the transistor? Anyway, at least I'm happy the Nobel prize committee isn't based in the US. Otherwise we'd soon see the Nobel prize for advertising.

Wasn't he a mega racist and eugenicist?

Maybe, but that's the flip side of the coin ...

Re: Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin

#196

Post by Ylpertnodi » Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 2:24 PM UTC

shortrounddev2 wrote: post #112

throw0101d wrote: post #65

> Mobile Refrigeration — Minnesota The logistical chain for keeping products products is really interesting: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_chain Besides food, another area where it is critical is pharmaceuticals.

During the pandemic there was controversy about who received Moderna/Phizer vs who received J&J's vaccine. They were giving black neighborhoods J&J because it didn't have as strict refrigeration requirements, and a lot of black neighborhoods don't have a nearby pharmacy which can store the vaccines. J&J was thought to be less effective and had a higher rate of vaccine injury though.

> J&J was though to be less effective and had a higher rate of vaccine injury though.

What's a 'vaccine injury', though?

Re: Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin

#197

Post by mxuribe » Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 2:28 PM UTC

Maybe its simply my personally opinion, but I agree with @tylerflick with the opinion that why not Dennis Ritchie. Sure, Jobs was a ridiculously effective *promoter*, and there is without a doubt a place for that role in the world...But i guess when i think *innovation* i think Ritchie, Woz, Cray, Admiral Hopper, etc...not, like, the business folks...but maybe i'm being too harsh?

Re: Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin

#198

Post by bArray » Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 2:34 PM UTC

shevy-java wrote: post #159

Shall we forget that Steve Jobs conspired with other companies to pay developers less? This is well-documented in courts (and also on many other websites, by the way): https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/apr/24/apple-goo... See: "[...] Steve Jobs orchestrated an elaborate scheme to prevent poaching and drive down wages."

> Shall we forget that Steve Jobs conspired with other companies to pay developers less?

What could be a more fitting placement than on a dollar coin? He'll be used to pay employees using an inflating dollar currency, where he can continue to pay employees less in perpetuity.

Re: Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin

#199

Post by alephnerd » Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 2:37 PM UTC

mxuribe wrote: post #197

Maybe its simply my personally opinion, but I agree with @tylerflick with the opinion that why not Dennis Ritchie. Sure, Jobs was a ridiculously effective *promoter*, and there is without a doubt a place for that role in the world...But i guess when i think *innovation* i think Ritchie, Woz, Cray, Admiral Hopper, etc...not, like, the business folks...but maybe i'm being too harsh?

Before Steve Jobs, UX was an afterthought in much of software development.

It was he and Apple that really drove the tech industry to recognize that User Experience and developing simplified products for non-specialists matter.

Even the Mint gives that explaination for why he's included as an "innovator".

Re: Steve Jobs and Cray-1 to be featured on 2026 American Innovations $1 coin

#200

Post by whalesalad » Thu, Oct 16, 2025, 2:38 PM UTC

Everyone in here is concerned about whether or not X, Y or Z should be on the coin. I am asking myself, why the hell are we minting a new coin at all.