# An Alternative to Discontinuing the Penny **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 10, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142 "2025-02-10T17:46:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/81 "2025-02-11T17:31:14Z")
It would be perceived as some as starting down that same slippery slope that lead to the one hundred trillion dollar bill in Zimbabwe. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/82 "2025-02-11T17:43:44Z")
There is really no connection between eliminating the lowest value coin and the inflation rate. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/83 "2025-02-11T17:43:58Z")
> [@Ynnad](#): > > It would be perceived as some as starting down that same slippery slope that lead to the one hundred trillion dollar bill in Zimbabwe. Versus literally throwing pennies in a trash can because saving them up in a jar for a year won’t buy you a sandwich? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/84 "2025-02-11T19:14:48Z")
Meanwhile, at the White House: > **[Trump instructs Treasury to halt penny production | CNN Business](https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/09/business/trump-treasury-penny-production-halt/index.html)** > > President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he has instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt the production of pennies, citing the high cost of producing one cent. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/85 "2025-02-11T19:40:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, here is a tip for you- if you like a business, try not to charge amounts under $10. If their _average transaction amount_ gets low, they pay a much higher credit card fee. > > Yes I like my cards also, but I also carry cash- but no coins, except maybe quarters (and of course a dollar coin if i got one). I use my CC for large ($300+) purchases (for the cashback rewards) and online. For everyday stuff I use a debit card. In Canada, debit card transaction merchant fees are minimal - a fixed amount of normally 5-10 cents per transaction - unlike CC fees, which are a percentage of the transaction amount. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/86 "2025-02-12T04:50:03Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > No Powerball in Canada (at least until, we become the 51st state) but not only can I buy lottery tickets with a card, I can do it online or with an app. Same here, elsewhere in Canada. Thankfully, casinos and racetracks still demand cash (\*) to play. No credit or debit cards can be used to wager at either. But they do have ATMs that are ready to dispense cash, if you don’t have any when you visit. (\*) In the case of racetracks, winning tickets and credit vouchers can also be used, but the latter can only be purchased with cash. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/87 "2025-02-12T13:49:51Z")
Hey! You brought up the subject. Obviously a half penny coin or eliminating pennies won’t have any tangible effect on the economy. It would require a two penny coin or issuing a single $Trillion bill to have that kind of effect. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/88 "2025-02-12T14:18:32Z")
How would a two cent coin have a **tangible** effect on the economy? There is no provision in the law for the issuance of a trillion dollar **bill**. However, there is a loophole in the law that would allow the issuance of trillion dollar platinum **coin**. This coin, just like all the other coins of the U.S., would be a direct obligation of the U.S. Treasury and not an obligation of the Federal Reserve banks. Serious proposals for such a coin have been discussed. Also, I can remember when it was illegal to buy beer, wine, or liquor in Arkansas with a credit card. This was pretty much before debit cards were really a thing. And one other thing. I think the reintroduction of a two cent coin would be awesome. No real need for one but it would still be cool. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/89 "2025-02-12T14:20:53Z")
> [@Ynnad](#): > > And one other thing. I think the reintroduction of a two cent coin would be awesome. No real need for one but it would still be cool. Now you’re getting the idea. It’s not about the economy, it’s about awesomeness. Most people don’t realize it but I invented awesomeness. I just don’t practice it much so I don’t get much notice for it. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/90 "2025-02-12T18:53:45Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > But they do have ATMs that are ready to dispense cash, if you don’t have any when you visit. I bet the vig the ATM vendor takes on those ATMs surpasses the vig the track takes from their tote. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/91 "2025-02-12T19:50:16Z")
I agree, but why stop at 5 cents? I’d suggest dropping all coins under 25cents. Just have a single coin. Round up sales tax of each transaction to the nearest quarter and be done with it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/92 "2025-02-12T21:09:58Z")
I could see rounding to a dime. Decimal currency you know. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/93 "2025-02-12T21:29:31Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s not about the economy, it’s about awesomeness. I think it’d be totally awesome to introduce a **farthing** coin. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/94 "2025-02-12T21:56:29Z")
> [@Dark\_Sponge](#): > > I agree, but why stop at 5 cents? I’d suggest dropping all coins under 25cents. Just have a single coin. Round up sales tax of each transaction to the nearest quarter and be done with it. I’ve got no problem with eliminating the penny, nickel and dime coins, but I would like to see them replaced by one-, five- and ten-dollar coins. It would be nice to be able to actually buy something with change, though I almost never use cash. And note that this has nothing to do with any imagined revaluation of the currency. Transactions would still be denominated down to the penny; only cash transactions wouldn’t bother with the small coins. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/95 "2025-02-13T00:55:45Z")
I found a penny on the floor in the grocery store today so I picked it up and put it in my pocket. How many of the penny haters on this message board will say that I was a fool for doing so? Was this ethical? It didn’t belong to me but finding the true owner would probably be almost impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/96 "2025-02-13T01:04:05Z")
I’ve never heard of picking up a coin being called unethical. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/97 "2025-02-13T01:06:47Z")
But it’s not really my penny. It is actually the property of someone else. What if it was a gold doubloon worth thousands of dollars? Where do you draw the line? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/98 "2025-02-13T01:08:14Z")
If you’re trying to make some point, I have no idea what it is. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/99 "2025-02-13T01:08:51Z")
Finders keepers, losers weepers. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142/100 "2025-02-13T01:13:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If you’re trying to make some point, I have no idea what it is. Neither do I. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternative-to-discontinuing-the-penny/1014142.md?page=6)