No more new pennies

[oscar]

They probably won't be, but maybe they'd be worth more than a 1 cent each at some point.  In any case, it probably isn't going to make or break my future financial security.

Go to the bank and ask for a few rolls...

Back when I was buying penny rolls to add to the pennies I got in change, I often got rolls of pennies that had been thoroughly picked through by other bank customers. They removed all the bronze pennies (1981-earlier, and some 1982s), leaving only copper-plated zine pennies with a melt value less than face. I gave up at that point.

[Big John]

They probably won't be, but maybe they'd be worth more than a 1 cent each at some point.  In any case, it probably isn't going to make or break my future financial security.

Go to the bank and ask for a few rolls...

Back when I was buying penny rolls to add to the pennies I got in change, I often got rolls of pennies that had been thoroughly picked through by other bank customers. They removed all the bronze pennies (1981-earlier, and some 1982s), leaving only copper-plated zine pennies with a melt value less than face. I gave up at that point.

The year indication became smaller with the zinc pennies. can see with the different 1982 pennies.

[Scott5114]

Freed from making pennies, they could easily ramp up dollar and two dollar coins, and in say three years, just require banks to return one dollar bills to the Fed as they pass through, and quickly replace the dollar bill, which is what Canada did.

They can't actually do that, though. It's illegal. A company makes the bill paper and you'll make them sad.

[formulanone]

Just like the idea of "more dollar coins", the "melt value" people talk a big game but also never seem to actually show up.

I spend cash so rarely any longer that penny hoarding seems to be a waste of time. The few times I handle actual cash, it's usually in whole dollar amounts (fairs, a handful of restaurants, tips) or vending machines/parking meters, which necessitates almost zero need for one cent pieces, let alone exact change.

I'll probably pick through a few for coin collecting and get the rest to the bank before nobody wants to accept them.

[bwana39]

Americans don't like coins. 

Stop suggesting making $1 coins.

Americans don't like coins.

Looks like people don't like mixing coins and bills. Make coins large enough so that fast food meal is about largest coin, $10 maybe,  and it may work.
Or make more robust plastic bills, 25c or less, so that coins are not really required

For what it's worth, I'm paying with a credit card generally regardless of the amount.  For those times I do use cash - such as for tips - I don't want to carry around coins, and I'm pretty sure the server or bartender also doesn't want a pocketful of coins.

So you going to Magic City? I hear that the current vibe there starts with Mr. Lincoln.

[akotchi]

They probably won't be, but maybe they'd be worth more than a 1 cent each at some point.  In any case, it probably isn't going to make or break my future financial security.

Go to the bank and ask for a few rolls...

Back when I was buying penny rolls to add to the pennies I got in change, I often got rolls of pennies that had been thoroughly picked through by other bank customers. They removed all the bronze pennies (1981-earlier, and some 1982s), leaving only copper-plated zine pennies with a melt value less than face. I gave up at that point.

The year indication became smaller with the zinc pennies. can see with the different 1982 pennies.

There are large date and small date cents of either composition.  Seven different combinations of composition, date size and mint for 1982 circulating cents.

[vdeane]

Freed from making pennies, they could easily ramp up dollar and two dollar coins, and in say three years, just require banks to return one dollar bills to the Fed as they pass through, and quickly replace the dollar bill, which is what Canada did.

They can't actually do that, though. It's illegal. A company makes the bill paper and you'll make them sad.

What about the paper for the other bills?

[kphoger]

The bill (888-page .pdf warning) only prohibits redesigning the dollar bill.  It doesn't say they can't stop printing them or remove them from circulation.

The law in question far predates that—it was passed during the early 2000s in response to the Sacajawea dollar. (I've dug it up once before, but it was long enough ago I can't quote chapter and verse.)

Forgive my skepticism, but I'll believe it when I see evidence.

[Scott5114]

Forgive my skepticism, but I'll believe it when I see evidence.

Apparently the bill that I was thinking of—105th Congress HR 1098—was never actually passed. (Or if it was, it was merged into some other bill.)

That was an hour's worth of research I'll never get back...