# Ottawa plans to kill the penny **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 29, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212 "2012-03-29T22:58:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/21 "2012-04-03T11:53:00Z")
The US needed to kill the penny years ago. I’m 36, and at no point in my life has a penny ever been worth anything. These days, you see people just throw pennies on the ground and walk away, which might just be the last straw in convincing the Mint to stop making them. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/22 "2012-04-03T13:07:49Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > The US needed to kill the penny years ago. I’m 36, and at no point in my life has a penny ever been worth anything. These days, you see people just throw pennies on the ground and walk away, which might just be the last straw in convincing the Mint to stop making them. Like I said in the other thread, last decade I stopped picking up pennies from the ground because they were worthless. This decade, I have started picking up pennies from the ground again because I am picking up litter (and slightly less cumbersome and unsanitary than other litter.) ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/23 "2012-04-04T02:03:02Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > But they’ll never disappear. > > Because they have been talking about this for over a decade. Everyone I know has a big pile of pennies, some where in their house. > > My husband has enough to make a battleship! 1 and 2 cent coins were demonetised in NZ in 1990, some time after they were withdrawn from circulation. 5 cent coins were demonetised four months they were dropped from circulation. My stash of 1 and 2 cent coins from the jar were counted out and deposited at my bank just before the axe fell. It still only amounted to a few dollars, maybe less than $20 from a gallon jar. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2012, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/24 "2012-04-04T08:58:27Z")
> [@Kiwi\_Fruit](#): > > 1 and 2 cent coins were demonetised in NZ in 1990… The “axe” will never fall here in Canada. Our currency, in all forms, will remain good for its face value, as long as we exist. From [this link](http://www.budget.gc.ca/2012/themes/theme2-info-eng.html): > [@](#): > > The penny will retain its value indefinitely… I am taking this to mean that I will always be able to spend Canadian pennies in Canada; whether the Royal Canadian Mint has stopped minting pennies, or not. Much as I will always be able to spend Canadian one and two dollar bills in Canada, though the former have not been printed in over twenty years. Can the NZ government really declare currency worthless after a certain date? ---
**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:** [April 4, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/25 "2012-04-04T09:02:37Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Can the NZ government really declare currency worthless after a certain date? Indeed, that’s [precisely what they did](http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/currency/Money/0094086.html), over twenty years ago. > [@](#): > > On the 31st March 1989, the issue of 1 and 2 cent pieces ceased. Both coins were demonetised on the 30th April 1990. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/26 "2012-04-04T13:25:39Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > The “axe” will never fall here in Canada. Our currency, in all forms, will remain good for its face value, as long as we exist. From [this link](http://www.budget.gc.ca/2012/themes/theme2-info-eng.html): > > I am taking this to mean that I will always be able to spend Canadian pennies in Canada; whether the Royal Canadian Mint has stopped minting pennies, or not. Much as I will always be able to spend Canadian one and two dollar bills in Canada, though the former have not been printed in over twenty years. > > Can the NZ government really declare currency worthless after a certain date? Merchants will be free to refuse to accept pennies, and I would expect them to do so, just as they have been refusing $100 bills to avoid having to worry about counterfeits. But I take the statement to mean that you’ll always be able to take your pennies in to a bank. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/27 "2012-04-04T13:40:24Z")
That’ ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/28 "2012-04-04T13:48:36Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Wish they’d do something similar with the Euro. 1c and 2c are just useless. You’re free to do so - we did it in the Netherlands almost immediately after introduction. Astonishingly, civilization is still largely intact. To be fair, we had a similar system under the guilder so people understood what was happening. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/29 "2012-04-04T22:06:59Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > But I take the statement to mean that you’ll always be able to take your pennies in to a bank. Yes, that’s what I meant. Sorry if I wasn’t clear. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/30 "2012-04-04T22:12:21Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > ICivilisation did not collapse. They took your “z’s” too. Not with a bang, but a wimper. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/31 "2012-04-07T14:01:12Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > That’ Perhaps I shouldn’t try posting too early in the morning. I thought I deleted that post because I didn’t have time to finish my thoughts (Loosely construed). I was trying to respond to this statement: [QUOTE=Gorsnak] But I take the statement to mean that you’ll always be able to take your pennies in to a bank. [/QUOTE] That’s right. Canada is one of the few countries that never demonetises - that is, it doesn’t declare that previous coins and currency are no longer legal tender. (The UK and the US are two others that don’t demonetise; there may be others.) The policy is to encourage faith in the monetary system, so a coin or a bill, no matter how old, is still coin of the realm and will be accepted at the banks. (Contrast that to cases like Russia in the late 90s suddenly declaring that old rubles would stop being legal tender after a short period; caused great uncertainty and mistrust of the government’s monetary policies.) Heck, even pre-Confederation coins are bills are still legal tender. You can pay for goods with Newfoundland pennies and Province of Canada notes if you wanted to. You’d be foolish to do so, because their collector’s value is higher than their face value, but legally, they’re still money. So, as long as you keep finding pennies in the chesterfield, you’ll be able to take them into the bank. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/32 "2012-04-07T15:11:29Z")
[sigh] even with a cup of tea it’s still too early. Should have been: “Heck, even pre-Confederation coins [del]are[/del] bills are still legal tender.” ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/33 "2012-04-07T15:20:56Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > They took your “z’s” too. Civilisation is spelled with an S everywhere civilised. If I put a Z in it my spell check would underline it with an angry red wavy line, and rightly so. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/34 "2012-04-07T15:46:59Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > [sigh] even with a cup of tea it’s still too early. > > Should have been: > > “Heck, even pre-Confederation coins [del]are[/del] bills are still legal tender.” [double sigh] “Heck, even pre-Confederation coins [del]are[/del] and bills are still legal tender.” I’m going to wash dishes. All that my mind is capable of, it appears. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/35 "2012-05-04T18:07:03Z")
Update: Ceremony at Mint in Winnipeg as Finance Minister strikes last penny. [Link.](http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-commemorates-striking-of-last-penny-15100002?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint) Edit: and in other news, there’s a [$100 000 gold coin](http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/10-kilo-coin-6500002) available. Coincidence?\* I think not!\* ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/36 "2012-05-04T23:50:19Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > The “axe” will never fall here in Canada. Our currency, in all forms, will remain good for its face value, as long as we exist. From [this link](http://www.budget.gc.ca/2012/themes/theme2-info-eng.html): > > I am taking this to mean that I will always be able to spend Canadian pennies in Canada; whether the Royal Canadian Mint has stopped minting pennies, or not. Much as I will always be able to spend Canadian one and two dollar bills in Canada, though the former have not been printed in over twenty years. > > Can the NZ government really declare currency worthless after a certain date? I have something like 10 Canadian pennies from my last trip there. It’s nice to know that I can still spend it :). ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/37 "2012-05-05T00:44:19Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > Civilisation is spelled with an S everywhere civilised. If I put a Z in it my spell check would underline it with an angry red wavy line, and rightly so. And what do you think my spell check is doing right now with your “s” spelling, even as I type? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/38 "2012-05-05T01:05:08Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > Civilisation is spelled with an S everywhere civilised. If I put a Z in it my spell check would underline it with an angry red wavy line, and rightly so. “Civilization” is accepted spelling in Canada. Since Canadian spellings are the correct ones, that makes “civilization” correct by definition. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/39 "2012-05-05T01:18:45Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > “Civilization” is accepted spelling in Canada. Since Canadian spellings are the correct ones, that makes “civilization” correct by definition. Ah, yes. But is it pronounced civil-EYE-zation, or civil-E-zation. I believe, although I’m not sure, that Bill Shatner said “civil-EYE-zation” on some intros to Star Trek, and then revised (revized?) it to “civil-E-zation” later. I have a feeling my Scottish parents would have pronounced it “civil-EYE-zation” although I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212/40 "2012-05-05T02:10:09Z")
[Video.](http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20120504/penny-last-winnipeg-flaherty-120504/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ottawa-plans-to-kill-the-penny/617212.md?page=3)