Bye Bye Zincoln Cent

[BigSkyGuy]

Apparently, US Mint has been ordered to discontinue minting one cent coins. According to the mint it costs 3.7 cents to mint and distribute a one cent coin, resulting in a loss of 85 million last year. Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands, got rid of their pennies a long time ago. It is about time the US follows suit! Pennies are so worthless kids do not even bother picking them up. In the past, the zinc lobby has prevented Congress from passing legislation to end the one cent coin. We will still be finding those crusty, corroded, pieces of junk metal for a long time, but at least the supply will be cut off. Good riddance zincoln cent!

[Steve Herschbach]

Yes, Something I have long hoped for, nothing but a common and worthless trash target as far as I am concerned. They self destruct in the ground and especially when exposed to salt water so many I find literally get tossed in the garbage.

[Ridge Runner]

I know it’s time for the penny to go and it should been gone long ago but it’s been times when that penny looked great. If it hadn’t been for that penny I’d come home skunk as some say but with me I call a dry run.

 Story about the penny.

 Got my father in law detecting and he hit this bus stop. The ground was about 20X40 ft with grass when it first was put there. He said after a while he just sat on the ground because of so many targets. When it was over he had found 13 dollars in pennies alone.

 Chuck 

[cudamark]

Is it a done deal, or, just wishful thinking? When will the last cent be made? When will we be rounding off purchases to the nearest dollar?

[Steve Herschbach]

1 hour ago, cudamark said:

Is it a done deal, or, just wishful thinking? When will the last cent be made? When will we be rounding off purchases to the nearest dollar?

It's under discussion according to directives. Anyone needing to know more - Google is your friend.

Just to be clear - I will delete any and all references to any politician on any side of the fence or any direct commentary on policies in progress etc. For or against, this side or that, I don't care, I don't want it on these forums. Yes, I'm a complete anal jerk on this matter and anyone that feels the need to slide stuff in just needs to take it elsewhere. I can and will scrub anything that remotely delves into even remotely smelling like it has the vaguest hint of political commentary from this website as fast as it is found or reported. It seems I can never repeat that message enough.

[phrunt]

We got rid of our 1c and 2c coins in the early 90's I think in New Zealand, then the 5 cent went too, pointless to have them, I'd not be surprised if our 10 cent disappears at some point in the future.  

If a coin costs more to make than what it's worth that really makes no sense.

I'm sure once and if they're gone they'll be a distant memory to everyone in short time with nobody even caring, they'll be a pain for detector users for decades to come though 🙂

It's a bit like this thing I stumbled across.

 

[Steve Herschbach]

When they stopped making copper pennies everyone hoarded them, and now if they stop making pennies entirely you can bet the zincoln will disappear pretty fast also. But unlike copper pennies they will not last much as a future metal detector find of worth. Somebody finding a zinc penny in good condition with a metal detector 50 years from now will be pulling off a near miracle that might actually make them an interesting find some day. Kind of like finding a steel WW2 penny these days. Most are deteriorated away, or tuned out by people as being ferrous trash. I've not found one in decades but found quite a few in my early day coin detecting before discrimination was an option.

[glacialgold]

No objections here to eliminating the penny -- those haven't made much sense in transactions for decades. (Although this comes from a guy who rarely uses cash).

Getting rid of the nickel would make sense, too, since those cost a tad under 14 cents each to produce and distribute. 

[Ducks for cover] 😁

[Tom_in_CA]

10 minutes ago, Steve Herschbach said:

....... Somebody finding a zinc penny in good condition with a metal detector 50 years from now will be pulling off a near miracle .......

 

But alas, you and I will not live to see that day.   Because I know you're on the "ugly side of ~60 " just like me 🤣

 

Shucks I'm old enough to remember when round tabs gave way to the square types.  That supposedly "stay-on-the-can" 🙄  And I remember us md'rs thinking : "Yahoo, no more pulltabs to dig"  and thus " gold-rings in that TID range galore"  🤪   But alas :  I don't seem to be digging gold rings till my arms fall off in junky parks these days 🫣