Who wins and who loses as the US retires the penny

By: Nancy Forster-Holt, University of Rhode Island, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: November 20, 2025

Words: 1,397

Last Updated: 4 days, 18 hours ago

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By Nancy Forster-Holt, University of Rhode Island

By now, Americans know the strange math of minting: Each penny costs about 4 cents to make. Chances are you have some in a jar, or scattered among pockets, purses and car ashtrays.

As small as it is, the penny punches above its weight culturally. If it ever disappeared, so too might the simple kindness of “take a penny, leave a penny,” alongside timeless classics like …

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