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 Replies: 43 / Views: 2,785 |
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Valued Member
United States
212 Posts |
Looks as if it'll be done officially vs just Executive Order. https://mcclain.house.gov/press-rel...830D399917D4Quote:
Today, Representatives Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), alongside Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), introduced bipartisan legislation to end the production of pennies. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
59754 Posts |
Interesting. I wonder if they'll actually go through with it?  Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2158 Posts |
Maybe Americans for Common Cents has already "lobbied" sufficiently to get the nickel and other coins made out of zinc.
There would be enough zinc in a coin the size of a nickel to kill a large dog or a 25 lb baby.
You'd think they'd name the legislation after a lobbying group?
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
Edited by cladking
05/01/2025 9:55 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
584 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5797 Posts |
Well there goes them "Buy one get one for 99¢" deals!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1952 Posts |
Nice that the bill allows the cent to continue for collectors, and the rest of the code grants flexibility to copper/zinc composition.
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Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
Yeah, if they could still make it minted only for collector's like in mint and proof sets only, similar to the Kennedy half dollar, that'd be great. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
20346 Posts |
We have been without the cent in Canada since 2012 and it certainly hasn't been missed.
Seeing more and more purchases are done electronically, it can still be used.
I know that merchants like it as it is less one slot in the tills and one less denomination they have to count and sort.
We still include the cent which is made of copper in our proof and mint sets.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18754 Posts |
The cent should have been discontinued in 1982 instead of inflicting the numismatic horror of the zincoln on us.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1809 Posts |
Zincolns are indeed a horror. This eliminate-the-cent controversy imho is never
going to be resolved to everyone's satisfaction.
When/if the penny is *finally* discontinued, will the law that prohibits private
melting/recycling also be eliminated? We can only hope.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2158 Posts |
The FED will eventually gather up the pennies and melt whatever comes back. The longer they take to start the process the fewer that will come back. They'll be lucky to get 20% of the coins in circulation which is 5% of the mintage. Zinc will be returned more than the copper so they'll only get about about a couple billion coppers. One the pipeline to the refiners is filled they'll lift the ban on melting pennies.
Don't expect to get rich hording pennies because they will not be rare after the melting is done. Countless billions will still exist. These coins will be in abysmal condition and they'll get worse every year because of poor storage. Don't do it right after you eat but look at a handful of pennies and you'll see corrosion, spotting, culls, damage. and wear. Virtually every coin is awful and some years every coin is spotted before it even left the mint. I've seen a few nice coins in '24.
Even if millions of people wanted to make sets of the old cents from circulation there would be ample supply of corroded ugly coins.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Moderator
United States
164459 Posts |
A bipartisan bill in both chambers plus an executive willing to sign it? This is a slam dunk.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2030 Posts |
Quote:
The cent should have been discontinued in 1982 instead of inflicting the numismatic horror of the zincoln on us. 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2030 Posts |
So how will kids buy penny candy anymore?
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Moderator
United States
164459 Posts |
Quote:
So how will kids buy penny candy anymore? Penny candy? Where?  I have seen anything sell for less than a quarter in years. 
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19676 Posts |
Quote:
So how will kids buy penny candy anymore? Nothing exists for sale at one cent anymore. If they were to, they'll just use mommies card since about 90% of transactions are now electronic.
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Replies: 43 / Views: 2,785 |
Posted 05/01/2025 9:54 pm
