# Do you use pennies (USA one cent coin)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 26, 2025, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421 "2025-01-26T08:11:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/121 "2025-01-29T19:14:24Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I will point out that my guess is that there are a lot more things priced in figures ending in 8 or 9, especially 9, than in figures ending in 1 or 2; so even if the rounding is done fairly to the nearest nickle, the overall effect may be that far more things get rounded up than rounded down. Only if you buy one item at a time. In a multi-unit transaction, they add up all the figures ending in 8 or 9, to get a final figure that can end in just about any digit, then they add tax which may even be a fractional percentage, then they round to the nearest whatever. I imagine that there are extremely specific cases that could get a bit of gaming, places with very few different prices where the same final price occurs over and over again. Even if that happens, they can only score a couple of pennies on each individual transaction. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/122 "2025-01-29T19:17:12Z")
I use cash for maybe one in ten commercial transactions. If I get pennies back, I’ll either leave them in the Leave a Penny tray or they’ll wind up in a jar with my other loose change at home, which I take to the bank from time to time to run through the counter. The only purpose of the penny is to keep you from getting more. The time has come and gone to retire them, but I’m to understand that the conglomerate that owns zinc production in the US has thrown its weight around to stop Washington from discontinuing the penny. Same with the dollar bill - I think every developed country in the world has a coin for its main currency denomination, instead of a paper note, but the cloth manufacturer that the Mint uses steadfastly opposes retiring the dollar bill. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/123 "2025-01-29T19:30:21Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > but the cloth manufacturer that the Mint uses steadfastly opposes retiring the dollar bill. Nitpick. These folks make coins: > **[United States Mint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Mint)** > > The United States Mint is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury responsible for producing coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce, as well as controlling the movement of bullion. The U.S. Mint is one of two U.S. agencies that manufactures physical money. The other is the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which prints paper currency. The first United States Mint was created in Philadelphia in 1792, and soon joined by other centers, whose coins were identified by the Th... These folks make bills: > **[Bureau of Engraving and Printing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Engraving_and_Printing)** > > The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is a government agency within the United States Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the United States government, most notable of which is Federal Reserve Notes (paper money) for the Federal Reserve, the nation's central bank. In addition to paper currency, the BEP produces Treasury securities; military commissions and award certificates; invitations and admission cards; and many different types of ide... The are both divisions within the US Department of the Treasury. But they’re otherwise totally separate things. I’ve visited the Fort Worth paper bill factory. A fun & infomative tour. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/124 "2025-01-29T19:40:21Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Retailers will still exploit customer psychology by pricing an item at $9.95 rather than $10.00 Hmm. That’s a point. Better be careful how the rounding law’s written, though. > [@Procrustus](#): > > I agree with your assumption, but the rounding is done on the total. If I buy 6 of something at $1.99 each, the total is 4.94 and is rounded to $4.90. Is it done on the total? That’s entirely unclear to me. (And wouldn’t 4.94 round to 4.95?) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/125 "2025-01-29T19:49:46Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > So, if you buy $100 of groceries at 2% tax and $250 of alcohol at 8% tax, your final bill will be > $373.78. At the end of the day, the grocery store totals up your $102.04 in groceries and $271.74 in alcohol along with everyone elses and pays the government 2% on the groceries and 8% on the alcohol. What _real_ place charges tax on tax? The retailers collect tax & pay tax. In your above example, $100 of groceries is $102 with tax & $250 booze is $270 with tax, resulting in a bill to you of $372, you’re extra $1.78 is taxing the tax which i have never heard of happening in this country. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/126 "2025-01-29T19:51:45Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > (And wouldn’t 4.94 round to 4.95?) Yes. But not $5.00, which was the point I was _trying_ to make. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Is it done on the total? I don’t see any reason not to. What do they do in Canada? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/127 "2025-01-29T20:09:16Z")
We have no penny, and products still get priced at $X.99 or $X.97. Prices are still calculated in cents, items are totaled up, sales taxes added, and only the final total gets rounded, if a cash transaction. If plastic, it’s paid to the cent as well. Heck, gas prices are still advertised in tenths of a cent. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/128 "2025-01-29T20:11:49Z")
There’s no reason to round the individual prices before totalling. Only the total needs to be rounded. That’s when the cash changes hands. Different countries do the rounding differently. In Australia as mentioned upthread, a total ending in zero or 5 is left as-is. A total from 1 to 4 is rounded down to the nearest 10 cents and from 6 to 9 is rounded up to the nearest 10 cents. With the result that no matter what the total is, over a large number of transactions the rounding will net to zero. And often nickels will not be required. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/129 "2025-01-29T20:12:33Z")
Wow. That is really, really weird. Like I said, never had that occur with me. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/130 "2025-01-29T20:45:15Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > These folks make bills: They’d say _notes._ ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/131 "2025-01-29T20:59:34Z")
> [@rippingtons\_fan](#): > > I still pick up pennies from the ground whenever I see them. Being 74, I don’t pick up anything less than a quarter, and I have to think about that. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/132 "2025-01-29T21:01:28Z")
Thank you. I was struggling to come up with that word, failed, and fell back to “bills”. I suppose I could have read the intro paragraph of my own cite. Naaah, that’d be too easy. 🤦‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/133 "2025-01-29T21:04:11Z")
I put them in my wallet. When there’s a lot, I spend them. Handy for making exact change. Cashiers like it when you do that. Last summer, I found one embedded in the tar of a parking lot. Took awhile to pry it out, but it was worth the effort. I was one penny richer. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/134 "2025-01-29T22:08:39Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > What _real_ place charges tax on tax? The retailers collect tax & pay tax. In your above example, $100 of groceries is $102 with tax & $250 booze is $270 with tax, resulting in a bill to you of $372, you’re extra $1.78 is taxing the tax which i have never heard of happening in this country. Maybe I’m conflating calculations from my job with retail calculations. I just found a Menards receipt, and the tax they charged was 8% of the shelf price. OK, so ignore all of my calculations. Bottom line, though, is if rounding is done properly, it all comes out at the end of the day as zero sum - you make a couple of pennies here; you lose a couple pennies there. Unless someone is somehow gaming the system, there’s no profit or loss. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/135 "2025-01-29T22:28:36Z")
Yeah, if it’s less than a quarter, I’m not picking it up, and even then I likely will just walk by it. I did spy a 10-dollar bill while walking the dog last week, though. Now _that_ I picked up! ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/136 "2025-01-29T22:36:07Z")
One argument I’ve heard for not picking up pennies is that the amount you gain versus the time it takes to pick it up comes out to way less than minimum wage. I haven’t really don’t any research into how long it takes to stop, recognize a penny on the ground, pick it up, and put it in your wallet, but let’s assume it takes 10 seconds. That comes out to $3.60/hour. Are you willing to work for $3.60/hour? > [@Hatchie](#): > > Last summer, I found one embedded in the tar of a parking lot. Took awhile to pry it out, but it was worth the effort. I was one penny richer. I suspect in this case you were working for less than $1/hour. You earned sweatshop wages for your effort to dig that penny out of the tar. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/137 "2025-01-29T22:39:01Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > > [@Hatchie](#): > > > > Last summer, I found one embedded in the tar of a parking lot. Took awhile to pry it out, but it was worth the effort. I was one penny richer. > > I suspect in this case you were working for less than $1/hour. You earned sweatshop wages for your effort to dig that penny out of the tar. Yet the person who put it in the tar received a windfall of entertainment for a mere two bits. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/138 "2025-01-29T23:05:48Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Are you willing to work for $3.60/hour? Totally irrelevant. I’m **not** working. I’m not picking up money as a job. It’s **found** money. Why the hell would I **not** pick it up? I now have money I didn’t have a second ago, at the cost of…what exactly? ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/139 "2025-01-29T23:12:04Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > at the cost of…what exactly? At the cost of whatever else you could have been doing in the time it took you to pick it up. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421/140 "2025-01-29T23:21:30Z")
Here’s a relevant cite: **[xkcd: Working](https://xkcd.com/951/)**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421.md?page=8)