Between 2001 and 2006, there has been an increase of .6 cents for the reproduction of the penny. This increase displays economic problems that may lead to fatal ones. The penny is composed of 2% copper and 98% zinc. These elements are exponentially in demand causing the price of these materials to skyrocket. Many Americans think the penny is putting our country in jeopardy with financial losses. This meaningless coin is losing money for the mint, and should be abolished. The penny costs 1.4 cents to manufacture each time at the mint. This is causing the mint to lose money for the treasury. Last year, the mint earned $730 million dollars in profit. Many mint officials claim the estimation will be about $45 million due to the cost …show more content…
This averages to about 1210 pennies per person in the United States. These numbers are just simply preposterous. A majority of these Lincolns have probably been trashed, thrown on the ground or located in unknown areas of homes and apartments. The penny is practically worthless to many people in our country. In a Gallup Poll of 1,002 adults conducted from June 11 of this year displayed shocking results. Nearly 75% of those adults would stop and pick a penny that is present on the ground. About 40% of men and 35% of women would walk passed a penny that is on any type of surface. This poll also found that 58 percent of Americans stash their pennies in piggy banks, jars and drawers. Some Americans redeem their cents at banks or coin-counting machines, but 2 percent admitted they toss them into the trash. They consider the penny a nuisance to many fellow Americans. This sentiment has been growing through recent years. The penny is basically obsolete and should be removed from American currency. Many penny supporters think there is not an inflation with the economy. The cent doesn't buy anything in today's market. It is merely a token used to make odd change during cash purchases. The customer may have to use the, "Leave a penny, take a penny" bowl next to the cash register for correcting the balance. The penny can be put back into the bowl if the customer doesn't accept the return of pennies. It is neater than throwing them on the ground
To begin with, pennies aren't the only coins that cost too much to make. According to Jeff Sommer, who wrote the article “Penny Wise,or 2.4 Cents foolish?” he states “Each
The penny debate has been going on for many years. Many people want to get rid of the penny, but others want to keep the penny. We should keep the penny. The penny is a benefit in our society.
"The Penny Debate " by Brad Andrew is an article written to inform Americans about an ongoing conflict. Both sides are supported with good reasons; However, I think It would be beneficial to keep the penny. Based on the article, which implies that fellow Americas would lose much more than we're gaining. Things such as; Getting rid of the penny, Charities ran on coins will lose profits, putting U.S. Mint further in debt, and prices would rise. Many may think that eliminating the penny will be a plus, but aren't looking at both pros and cons in-depth for future references. Rather than getting rid of the penny altogether we could use a cheaper metal to produce
However, these people who have claimed this is unaware to the merchant technique of $9.99, which seems to be psychologically important; to keep that extra digit, $10.00, from showing up and scaring the customers away. And if we do, indeed, eliminate the penny, merchants would find another technique, for example, decrease the price to $9.95, to not increase the price an extra digit. But I say, the realistic idea and goal for eliminating pennies is because their feeble purchasing power means dealing with coins and making change to the nearest cent is an uneconomic waste of time for the nation as a whole, because majority of us are affected by it.
People admittedly do not favor change. Many have seen the statistics concerning how much it costs to maintain making pennies, the time it wastes and the overall problem it creates, but they still would not want to get rid of the penny. The Harris Poll has data supporting that
“Penny candy” and similar selling strategies or products do not exist anymore. Not to mention what used to be worth one cent forty-five years ago costs ten cents today. Over time the value of the penny has depreciated with inflation rendering them useless. Furthermore, since the penny cannot function on its own in a purchase the production of the penny is pointless.
Should we keep the penny? The US has been considering abolishing the penny we should keep the penny because of the History and it's valuable to charities and sentimental value
In source number 1 it says, “ We often throw them away in water fountains, throw them in jars, or refuse them as change.” This quote means why make a coin if all we do is throw them in jars, or refuse them as change, and just throw them in water fountains. Also, “We have penny drives to get rid of them sense people don’t want to get rid of quarters and dimes.” This quote says why make something if all we are doing with it is using them as loose change or just giving them away.
In America, there is still a debate if the penny should be eliminated. If it was to be eliminated it would still be used, but in a minimal way. In Canada, the Canadian penny was eliminated due to cost, time, and the country believed it was a waste of money, “inflation reduced its purchasing power by 95% since it was first minted domestically in 1908: back then the cent could buy goods of the cost of $0.20, today in other words.”(The Economist). Once a small coin can no longer be used to buy individual items at that price, but it is only used to make change, it becomes more trouble than it is worth. Canadian pennies cost “1.6 Canadian cents to manufacture, and the government expected to save $11 million a year by eliminating them”(The Economist). But that sum equivalent to 0.0006% of GDP is small change. Canadians feel that eliminating pennies is that their feeble purchasing power means dealing with coins,
The U.S. penny has been a standard in our currency system for almost as long as our country has existed as a sovereign nation, but due to inflation, production costs, and the changing times we live in, it is no longer a sustainable unit of currency and only serves to increase our national deficit and waste our time. When the penny was produced for the first time in 1792 by the U.S. Mint, it was made of pure copper, featured a woman with flowing hair, and was inscribed with the words “Liberty”. Since then, the design and composition have changed numerous times to reflect our changing nation. Despite its fading glory, the penny has been kept alive by numerous false lobbying fronts and a stubborn ideology, but
Money is the crux of society. Without it, anarchy would break out. Bargaining would fail as people would claim the trade wasn’t fair, thievery would explode across the globe, lazy people would do nothing, and people wouldn’t have motivation to do anything but help their own family and selves. Yet, while everyone knows money is important, is ALL money important? For centuries, the penny has been part of American currency. And back in the day, it served a great purpose. Pennies could buy candies, breads, and many other things all on their own. But as time has changed, so has the value of the penny. As costs went up, the value of the penny went down. And with its lesser value, some people wonder if it’s even worth it to keep the penny around. But the answer to that little puzzle is as easily seen as a jigsaw meant for four years olds is put together. The penny must be kept.
Washington Middle School (WMS) Raised over 3000 dollars in a week just from a penny drive. Many people,schools, etc. do penny drives for charity, even though the penny cost 1 cent doesn't mean it's useless. As Michael Cooper, an eighth grader said, “If you asked for my quarters, I would have said ‘no’ because I use them for video games. Pennies don't really matter much, so I was happy
To begin with, the penny has been around for a long time, it has influenced our culture and has created many sentimental sayings. “The history of a penny reveals more than just a coin, it exposes a piece of American culture.” (Story) The penny has changed many times. There have been many designs all of which reflect the time they were made. There are also idioms that were created because of the penny, some of which are still used to this day. The saying “ A penny for your thoughts” for
This is why people think we should keep the penny. First of all, customers benefit from having a low-denomination coin. If we get rid of the penny it would make goods more expensive. Charities raise a lot of money from pennies. Also, 75 percent of America thinks
Getting rid of the penny is good for the economy because it would save the government on average 60 million dollars a year. Evidence that supports this claim is, “Pennies may not be big money, even if you add them together. But we are paying a cost for the privilege of squirreling