Why Should We Get Rid Of The Penny?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Retire the Penny. Retire the Penny is a commonsense, non-partisan coalition of individuals, businesses, and political leaders who understand that eliminating the penny from circulation could save the US government close to $85 million annually . The penny costs twice as much as to produce than it is worth.

Why the penny should be abolished?

Dimes cost less than $0.04 to make, so the Mint could produce more of those without losing money. Aaron notes in his Brookings Institution editorial that eliminating both pennies and nickels would round off all cash transactions to the nearest $0.10, making for “easier math” and “less stuff in our pockets.”

Why are pennies bad for the environment?

Making pennies wastes natural resources and is toxic to people and the environment – Pennies are 3 percent copper, and 97 percent zinc and are primarily made from virgin ore. The process of refining both metals can release sulfur dioxide (SO2), lead and zinc into the environment.

Why pennies are bad for the economy?

The Penny Hurts the National Economy

Given the 107 billion cash transactions per year in 2012 (US Federal Reserve Payments Study), using pennies therefore wastes 120 million hours of time per year counting the time of both the customer and the store employee.

Why is the penny so important?

Those who favor keeping the penny believe the penny plays an important role in keeping down the costs of the goods and services we buy . If there were no pennies, stores and restaurants would round up to the nearest nickel. This means consumers would end up paying $0.55 for something that should cost only $0.51.

Will the penny go away?

The U.S. Mint will officially phase out penny production in late 2022 , and it’ll complete its last batch of penny production on April 1, 2023. ... Mint won’t let the penny fizzle, though. Instead, it’ll send off the coin with 50,000 proof sets that it’ll auction off to collectors.

Are pennies worth keeping?

You should keep all pre-1982 pennies . If you can distinguish between 1982 brass and zinc pennies, keep the brass ones. All wheat pennies are worth keeping. Keep all pennies (even recent ones) that appear to have something “off” about them — they may be error or die variety coins.

Will we get rid of the penny?

Mint said there are no immediate plans to get rid of pennies . “There have been no formal discussions on this topic within the United States Mint (Mint) or the Treasury Department,” said the spokesperson. “We mint coins in accordance with legislation and based on orders from the Federal Reserve System.”

Why do pennies still exist?

Why Do Pennies Still Exist? Pennies have almost no purchasing power; it costs more to mint a penny than a penny is worth ; and the U.S. Mint could cut its workload significantly just by ceasing production.

How much are pennies worth?

For most pennies, those minted in recent years are worth, well, a penny. Most wheat cents (wheat pennies were minted between 1909 and 1956) are worth about 4 to 5 cents . Those in better condition can have double-digit value. Special examples (especially those in near perfect condition) can be worth much more.

What years to look for on pennies?

  1. 1943-D Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Copper/Bronze.
  2. 1944-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Steel Cent.
  3. 1943-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Bronze/Copper.
  4. 1943-P Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny: Bronze/Copper.

What penny is worth millions?

The million dollar penny: Rare 1943 Lincoln cent bought by owner of the Texas Rangers for a cool $1MILLION. According to the Professional Coin Grading Service, only a few pennies were mistakenly made of bronze instead of steel at the San Francisco Mint in 1943.

How much is 1 cent doubled every day for 30 days?

This is because of the power of compound interest. If you took a single penny and doubled it everyday, by day 30, you would have $5,368,709.12 .

What penny is the rarest?

The 1943 copper-alloy cent is one of the most enigmatic coins in American numismatics — and reportedly the most valuable Lincoln penny of all.

Will 2020 coins be valuable?

The value of a 2020-W quarter is based on the condition of the coin: A worn 2020-W quarter can fetch between $5 and $10 . A 2020-W quarter in average uncirculated condition is generally worth $15 to $20. The nicest 2020-W quarters — those grading Mint State-68 or better can bring more than $500.

Should we get rid of the penny pros and cons?

  • Pro 1. Preserving the penny keeps consumer prices down and avoids harming low-income households. ...
  • Pro 2. A penny can be used for decades and is more cost-efficient to produce than a nickel. ...
  • Pro 3. The existence of pennies helps raise a lot of money for charities. ...
  • Con 1. ...
  • Con 2. ...
  • Con 3.
Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.