The RCM May Not Care, But I'm Throwing In The Proverbial Towel.

I have read recently that the US mint costs around 2 to 3 cents to manufacture a penny and at the 2013 Winnipeg tour, the manager said around 13 cents costs for a loonie, not a best guess. Just think of the many steps of prduction for a simple penny, 2 or 3 cents is quite cheap, look at what Home Depot charges for a simple washer. Good luck on collecting

The US cent absolutely costs more than a cent to mint and distribute. It is a loser and has been for the better part of three decades. Even if its materials were free (zinc, plastic, thin air, whatever), it would still be a loser.

Abe Lincoln is definitely a huge part of its staying power. Even if we managed to quash the zinc lobby, the Abe factor would still weigh heavily in the its continuation.

Canada did the right thing for right reason. This goes for the loonie and toonie as well.

Solution for the US: Get rid of the penny and put Lincoln on a $1 coin, then stop printing dollar bills.

I enjoyed collecting the penny, so at the time I was sad to see it go. I do believe now though that it was the right decision. I can't see myself ever stopping to collect Canadian circulating coins. It's easy enough to pull out nice examples from change or rolls. It can be harder to find the coloured versions, but then I tend to just suck it up and pay the premium for a nice example. Yes, the plated steel that has been used for the past 20+ years cost less than nickel, but it doesn't bother me. Canada has gone through changing size/composition of coins multiple times in our history.

It is my opinion that the penny and fifty cent coins should have both continued to be minted, not as rolls at double face, but only offered in mint sets;
Maybe not both so much in proof or specimen sets as those sets offer exclusivity in them as-is, but surely should have been included in the pilo-film (aka: uncirculated sets or classic sets) for the collectors.
(I am not suggesting that the fifty cent coin be removed from the proof or specimen sets, but that something else should have been added to entice collecting the "uncirculated" sets.)

Although I think the fifty cent piece is our nicest looking coin, it stopped being regularly circulated around the time when the (nickle composition) "silver" dollar fell out of favour from circulation.
When I was younger (specifically around 1986/1987) for a very brief time my brothers and I got an allowance;
My dad would go to the bank, and specifically requested fifty cent coins for my younger brothers, and silver dollars for me.

I clearly remember that we could spend them, normally retailers would have an extra spot in their tills (now probably used for loonies or toonies) where these coins would be put.
If my memory is correct, not too long after the loonie was introduced, the banks stopped offering silver dollars and fifty cent pieces - the only exception to this was in 2002 when the royal bank was distributing the special 50th anniversary QEII coins.

jbuck -- I trust you're in contact with your elected representatives on matters dealing with coins and currency.

Actually, I have written them in the past. My pockets are not deep enough to get an acknowledgement, let alone a reply. I guess they know I voted for their opponents.

I have received most of my dollar coins when state-side by car wash chage machines;
I thought that the Presidential dollar series had gained a little more acceptance than the 2002 issue?

The novelty gave it a bump, but that wore off soon. They eventually they gave up and since then all the small dollars are NIFC.