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 Replies: 46 / Views: 5,926 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1609 Posts |
I wanted to make an experiment of how durable our modern pennies are. I cut a slit in the coin with a hacksaw to expose the zinc, then left it underwater for a month and a half, letting it out only to take pictures.   |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
That coin is not aging very gracefully.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
There have been so many discussions about eliminating the cent, that if I had a cent for each one, I might have dollars.
No sane person wants them. Throw a few on the ground near a convenience store door and time how long they lay there. Usually until a kid walks by.
The only excuse to keep the cent is that everything would be rounded to a nickel or the nearest nickel. Who cares? There is precious little money exchanged. More cards and pay pal than actual in your hand money.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Yes we all know about zinc rot . but we need to wait for the Bureaucrats , Congress ,etc. to adopt another solution . I'm all for losing the Business strike Lincoln Cent . but would want them to strike proofs every year in 95% copper !  |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
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That coin is not aging very gracefully. I literally laughed out loud. Frankly, the coin survived better than I'd have expected. Must have been relatively pure water.  |
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
Read on the Government Mint site that the Mint actually makes money selling the Cents to banks but loses money on the nickel - without the cent there would be no nickles - where do they stop? Single dollars?
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
I'd love to see where you are seeing that Mark. Everything I've ever read says it costs more than a cent to mint them, let alone ship them.
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Valued Member
United States
363 Posts |
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but would want them to strike proofs every year in 95% copper  with that however if they stopped producing pennies in 50 years when they aren't in circulation anymore kids would not be able to fill up their Whitman albums. Pennies are the easiest for a beginner coin collectors to collect. I agree that the penny is useless but save it for numismatic's sake!  |
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Valued Member
United States
57 Posts |
I hope they don't get rid of the penny. They got me in to collecting and how would I fill out my Whitman folder without them!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
I didn't intend for this to be an experiment but the same thing happened to a set of coasters I made in early June. They looked great at the beginning but they started corroding almost immediately. There's no polyurethane or shellac of any kind, just spray-painted cork and glue to to hold them in place. In hindsight, it's not surprising in the least. Next time, I'll either coat them in some way, or I'll use quarters instead.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12815 Posts |
Interesting idea. I'd suggest using the 2-part acrylic stuff used for bar counter tops to preserve the nice look of the BU cents. It sets up absolutely clear. The down side is that wouldn't do anything to absorb moisture. @JeBipp - IF they did away with the cent it's highly likely they'd continue to make it for collectors, the way they do today with half dollars and dollar coins. Quote:
...without the cent there would be no nickles - where do they stop? Single dollars? Even the once mighty quarter has little buying power these days. Maybe you can still find a Galaga machine that isn't set for $0.50 per play. One solution is the cent, nickel and quarter would go away and be replaced by a 20-cent piece, so you'd have dime, 20-cent, half, dollar. But the vending machine lobby would fight that tooth and nail. And yeah... the Mint is losing money on both the cent and nickel production, and has been for a long time. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
505 Posts |
Why not make it out of aluminum? No rot and cheaper. Or tin/aluminum alloy? Could make them out of recycled tin/aluminum and knock out two stones with one bird.
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1609 Posts |
I saw a video that has a good point: the Half Cent was discontinued in 1857 because its value was considered too low. Half of a cent in 1857 is worth 13 cents in today's money. Maybe we can rid the nickel and dime, and round the quarter up to 30 cents, and call that that? (I know it would be confusing to half a coin named quarter that's worth more than a quarter of a dollar) Edit: I like the penny. But to have a coin that costs 6x its face value to produce and distribute, is just illogical. (Really, each penny costs 6-8 cents to make and distribute) Edited by RoyCoinBoy
08/29/2017 10:22 pm
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Valued Member
United States
363 Posts |
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round the quarter up to 30 cents, and call that that? I think "that" would tear our country apart  Edited by Buckwill311
08/29/2017 10:22 pm
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
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I think "that" would tear our country apart No - it's already torn apart!! |
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Replies: 46 / Views: 5,926 |
Posted 08/29/2017 8:33 pm
