[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Nov 12 2003, 02:10 AM\']
That suggests to me that the U.S. Mint does indeed advertise currency.
You need to learn the difference between paid advertising and public service announcements. [/quote]
Public service announcements are, by definition, advertisements. Whether it's "This is your brain, this is your brain on drugs" or "Look at the new $20," they're still advertising a product, service, or opinion.
The U.S. Forestry Service has never paid one nickel for air time or ad space for Smokey the Bear because the time/space is donated by radio and TV stations, networks, magazines, etc.
But they're still advertising, irregardless if it costs money to air the ad. And it definitely cost money to create the commercials -- subsidized by donations or not.
When's the last time you saw a Smokey the Bear commercial? The only PSAs I see are those increasingly annoying anti-smoking ones.
It is conceivable that Henson is donating the cost of producing the PSAs and deducting the cost as a contribution to a non-profit entity.
And it's just as conceivable that Henson got paid for Kermit's familiar image and name.
It is very unlikely that Treasury has a budget for paid advertising on TPIR or anywhere else, but TPIR could give the nickels exposure as a prize, free of charge, as a public service. This is precisely what Barker does when you see puppy dogs on the show and Barker talks about the animal shelter they came from.
Which is entirely different. That is Bob Barker's charity of choice, which he promotes because he feels so strongly about the cause. Frankly, if I was in the same position as Barker, I'd talk about puppies, too.
Proving again that if there's any way to waste money, the government will find it.
If they didn't advertise the new $20 bill, many people would not accept the new ones because they would be obvious counterfeits. Had I not known about the new $20, I wouldn't be dumb enough to accept it.
If you would accept it without knowing about the new $20s, I've got an offer for you: Send me $200 in traditional currency and I'll send you $15,140 in colorful, new money.