General Discussion

Abolishinist

(2,891 posts)

4. This is not a new idea, as far back as 2008

Sat Dec 13, 2025, 09:14 PM

Dec 13

Obama said the idea of eliminating the penny was worth considering.

#1. It costs more than it’s worth. It costs more than 1 cent to make a penny (largely due to zinc and copper prices). Taxpayers effectively subsidize a coin that has negative value.

#2. Minimal purchasing power. The penny has lost over 95% of its value since its introduction. You can’t realistically buy anything with one; prices are already rounded psychologically.

#3. Time and efficiency. Studies estimate pennies waste millions of hours per year in checkout time. Businesses spend real money counting, storing, and transporting them.

#4. Environmental impact - Mining zinc and copper is environmentally costly. Eliminating the penny would reduce metal extraction, energy use, and emissions.

Full Disclaimer: when I was considering running for President, one of my top 3 policy proclamations was the elimination of the penny. Another was bringing back Sunday afternoons at the local Colosseum, where those who have no idea who you are call and awaken you at 6:30 in the morning in an attempt to sell you something. They will be put to death. The 3rd was free pizza for everyone every Friday. Well, when I asked for donations, someone knocked on my door at 6:30am on a Friday morning to deliver a pizza containing 1,000 pennies immersed in gooey cheese. I decided to drop out.

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Rhiannon12866 Ol Janx Spirit Dave says rampartd Tracyjo rollin74

49 replies

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Highlight:

Trump's claimed justification for ending the penny makes no sense at all [View all] jmowreader Dec 13 OP

How did he make money killing the penny? Irish_Dem Dec 13 #1

I stumbled upon a right wing screed recently which for some reason... Hugin Dec 13 #13

Who gets all the pennies, and how much are they worth? Irish_Dem Dec 14 #37

Personally, I believe it goes back to a grudge against a dead guy. Hugin Dec 14 #38

Getting revenge and grifting at the same time. Irish_Dem Dec 14 #39

Americans are weakest about what... Hugin Dec 14 #40

The evil geniuses installed the perfect snake oil salesman. Irish_Dem Dec 14 #42

Except They're Not Rare Earth Metals ProfessorGAC Dec 14 #49

lincoln freed theslaves very bad person rampartd Dec 13 #26

Oh geez I had not thought of that. Of course. Irish_Dem Dec 14 #43

That's a good argument. Should be shared widely. bucolic_frolic Dec 13 #2

I haven't heard one issue he's tackling make any sense or justification for his decisions..the penny Deuxcents Dec 13 #3

This is not a new idea, as far back as 2008 Abolishinist Dec 13 #4

next time you run for president promise to implode the ball room rampartd Dec 13 #30

Pennies were eliminated in Canada a long time ago. jeffreyi Dec 13 #5

Other countries think this through and do planned phase-outs rather than just act on impulse. Eugene Dec 13 #8

During WWII, pennies were made out of steel Deminpenn Dec 13 #23

There's a whole documentary about it. eggplant Dec 13 #16

Its inevitable. Not Trumps idea. Just common sense. LiberalLovinLug Dec 13 #18

On top of that, if cost relative to value was the real issue, nickels should be discontinued first. Wiz Imp Dec 13 #6

The volume of nickels shouldn't need to increase if the penny is discontinued. eggplant Dec 13 #17

Most experts disagree with you including the Federal Reserve. Wiz Imp Dec 13 #28

Locally, Giant Eagle grocery stores offered $1 in gift cards for every 50 penny roll Deminpenn Dec 13 #27

A mill is one tenth of a penny Bmoboy Dec 13 #7

Krugman says the penny is no longer relevant. It is obsolete. We should also start minting one-dollar and two-dollar Martin68 Dec 13 #9

The problem with that is vending machines don't take dollar coins Deminpenn Dec 13 #29

In Canada our vending machines take $1 and $2 coins. Most adults use their debit or credit cards on the machines. Bev54 Dec 13 #32

That's nice to know Deminpenn Dec 13 #34

Exactly. I used to spend every summer in Ontario, and I thought one and two dollar coins were great. Martin68 Dec 14 #47

Yes most people have their cards on their phones now so just tap the phone. Bev54 Dec 14 #48

If the penny is dead, BlueSpot Dec 14 #35

That's like a blacksmith saying "we don't have horseshoes for automobiles. Let's stick with horses." Martin68 Dec 14 #46

It is an issue when you're dealing with a moron that can only focus on one thought at a time. Trump is really flashman13 Dec 13 #10

Translation: Bessent plans on embezzling the nation's copper reserves. intheflow Dec 13 #11

Not really a lot of copper in pennies any more... Wounded Bear Dec 13 #21

Even so, a quart jar full of pennies is $18.00 yellowdogintexas Dec 14 #36

Actually, I don't think pennies circulate much at all. patphil Dec 13 #12

much hue and cry in advocacy - for a token that consumers in large part refuse to use stopdiggin Dec 13 #15

He wants to destroy everything and anything he can. RockRaven Dec 13 #14

They've discussed killing the penny forever. Melon Dec 13 #19

Yeah, they can blame/give credit to trump if they like, but it's been in the works for a while...nt Wounded Bear Dec 13 #22

That's right, it doesn't make any cents! KelleyKramer Dec 13 #20

If a penny costs 3.69 cents to make, but a dollar only costs 4.1 cents to make*, then the face value argument... Ol Janx Spirit Dec 13 #24

Even if so, the thing to do is to make 2-cent coins that look almost like cents (not pennies -- there is no US penny). eppur_se_muova Dec 13 #25

Getting rid of the penny is a fairly old idea dsc Dec 13 #31

Seigniorage Deminpenn Dec 13 #33

1/2 Cent, Two-Cent piece, Three Cent piece, Silver Half-Dimes, Twenty-Cent piece, and Emile Dec 14 #41

I hate having loose coins. MichMan Dec 14 #44

In Panama, pennies are necessary PJMcK Dec 14 #45