# I am very disappointed in the new US pennies **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673 "2017-09-06T21:40:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/21 "2017-09-07T00:29:09Z")
Pennies aren’t real money. They _are_ cheap ass tokens, produced at the behest of math-phobes and the zinc lobby. But the only thing that’s changed in the last 35 years is the design. They’re made of the exact same stuff in the exact same way. (I remember that people swore up and down that the state quarters felt lighter even though they weren’t.) ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/22 "2017-09-07T00:32:26Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > The design on the back is neat, but it reminds me of play money. I second that. In fact I would swear the one set of plastic play money I had as a kid used an almost identical design. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/23 "2017-09-07T00:33:02Z")
Some 2017 pennies are being minted with a P mint mark. The 2017-P Lincoln cent became the first-ever United States one-cent coin to bear Philadelphia’s “P” mintmark. Worth looking out for. I found a 1944 wheatie in my change today. That’s 10 years older than I am which makes it OLD. Good condition at best; probably worth about 15 cents. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/24 "2017-09-07T01:02:35Z")
Asspennies. Nobodies mentioned asspennies. I sure as hell won’t. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/25 "2017-09-07T01:47:32Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Pennies aren’t real money. They _are_ cheap ass tokens, produced at the behest of math-phobes and the zinc lobby. > > But the only thing that’s changed in the last 35 years is the design. They’re made of the exact same stuff in the exact same way. (I remember that people swore up and down that the state quarters felt lighter even though they weren’t.) You may be surprised to hear that the zinc pennies are actually heavier than the copper ones: 3.11g vs 2.5g. But they are not made in the exact same way. the new “shield” pennies are stamped with less relief; which, counter-intuitively, makes them feel thinner. the face and the monument used to feel thicker than the edge; now the whole cent feels as just one thickness. mc ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/26 "2017-09-07T02:01:10Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Asspennies. Nobodies mentioned asspennies. I sure as hell won’t. [I was tempted to.](http://www.cc.com/video-clips/zpuyqq/upright-citizens-brigade-ass-pennies) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/27 "2017-09-07T10:40:11Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Canada has dealt with both those little problems. that’s because Canada doesn’t let lobbyists run things. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/28 "2017-09-07T11:09:57Z")
Canada has [glow-in-the dark](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/20/canada-coin-glow-in-the-dark) scenes printed on coins that are substantial in size, weight and complexity. Perhaps the OP’s conundrum could be solved if the US Mint produced similarly substantial coins with glow-in-the-dark nudie scenes on them. (And the answer to the obvious questions are that yes, the blue-green glow-in-the-dark printing does wear off, and no, the gold-coloured-metal-coin-within-a-silver-coloured-coin almost never pops out.) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/29 "2017-09-07T12:18:34Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I think they should have kept the Lincoln Memorial on the obverse. It was the only coinage that had the same person on both sides. D’oh! I meant the Lincoln Memorial was on the reverse. I know better than that. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/30 "2017-09-07T12:54:08Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > The composition was changed in 1982 to 97.5 percent zinc and 2.5 percent copper from 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc. The change not only makes them lighter they do not stand up to circulation as well and they really don’t stand up to the elements. You will no longer find a penny that’s been laying around in the dirt for years. Future old men with metal detectors are out of luck on the penny front! > > mc How well do they smash on the railroad track? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/31 "2017-09-07T13:26:38Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > How well do they smash on the railroad track? About a nickel’s worth of entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/32 "2017-09-07T13:50:19Z")
I wish they would have put pictures of bumblebees on the back. that way you’d say “give me five bees for a nickel.” Now where was I… ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/33 "2017-09-07T16:10:30Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I am very disappointed that they still bother minting pennies. > > and dollar bills, for that matter. Nitpick time. The mint **mints** pennies, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing **prints** dollar bills. > [@Acsenray](#): > > I hate the shield design on the penny, if that’s what we are talking about. It looks cheap. It looks like it’s a copy of the [1786 New Jersey](http://coinauctionshelp.com/imitationbritish_newjersey1786.html) copper coins. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/34 "2017-09-07T16:48:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **cochrane** : > > I think they should have kept the Lincoln Memorial on the obverse. It was the only coinage that had the same person on both sides. Well, it was once, but then they made the state quarters for [New Jersey](http://www.statequarterguide.com/1999-new-jersey-state-quarter/) and [South Dakota](http://www.theus50.com/southdakota/quarter.php). And there’s one advantage to the copper-clad zinc design for pennies: If you cut a small notch in the edge, then you can drop them in hydrochloric acid and hollow them out, which is pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/35 "2017-09-07T16:55:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Well, it was once, but then they made the state quarters for [New Jersey](http://www.statequarterguide.com/1999-new-jersey-state-quarter/) and [South Dakota](http://www.theus50.com/southdakota/quarter.php). > > And there’s one advantage to the copper-clad zinc design for pennies: If you cut a small notch in the edge, then you can drop them in hydrochloric acid and hollow them out, which is pretty cool. Since the melting point of zinc is lower, you can hollow them out with a lighter while gently holding with some needle nosed pliers. Uh… don’t try this at home kids. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/36 "2017-09-07T17:43:26Z")
Why do we still have pennies and nickels. Pennies are a rediculous thing to still be making and using and honestly nickels really aren’t worth it either. ---
**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:** [September 7, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/37 "2017-09-07T17:52:23Z")
Since the production cost of both the penny and the nickel exceeds the face value, it’s absolutely correct to say they’re not worth producing or using (even aside from the fact that you really can’t buy anything for a penny, a nickel or a dime). ---
**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:** [September 7, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/38 "2017-09-07T19:28:48Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > The composition was changed in 1982 to 97.5 percent zinc and 2.5 percent copper from 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc. The change not only makes them lighter they do not stand up to circulation as well and they really don’t stand up to the elements. You will no longer find a penny that’s been laying around in the dirt for years. Future old men with metal detectors are out of luck on the penny front! > > mc I noticed this recently when I found a penny that was left outside for quite a while. It didn’t even look like a penny, I thought it was a one of those cheap-ass tokens like the OP mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/39 "2017-09-07T19:41:36Z")
Who asked for your two cents ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673/40 "2017-09-07T19:42:23Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Asspennies. Nobodies mentioned asspennies. I sure as hell won’t. People are talking about asspennies, I’m not, but I hear people are. Are there asspennies out there? I don’t know, could be; it’s what people are saying, maybe it’s true. But I’m not gonna talk about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-very-disappointed-in-the-new-us-pennies/795673.md?page=3)