They've been given dollar coins in change from machines since at least the 80s. They had years and years of supply from the 2 years they made the Susan B. Anthony dollar [which is the same size and the golden ones, but silver clad and often confused with quarters].
In 1990 I had fun using my SBA's in Madison, WI buying small items ice cream from blonde teens who likely never saw the coin before and would at first be pissed when, say, I said "keep the change" to a $1.25 cone with what looked like fifty cents.
I love confusing cute blondies with my other hobby, coins.