Actually, We Don't Need Pennies

As the price of raw metals has risen, the copper used to make pennies actually is more valuable than the penny itself. So instead of adulterating the metal used to make Pennies, the US Mint came up with a solution only the government could figure out: banning the practice of melting the pennies back to their raw materials.

Director Ed Moy is quoted as saying "the nation needs its coinage for commerce." Actually Ed, we don't need the penny. Isn't it time evaluate the actual necessity of the penny? The rise in copper prices is a great opportunity to phase out what is essentially a worthless coin. Pennies don't buy anything. There is no penny candy. There are no penny arcade games. Even penny slots use credit cards or quarters. But pennies are heavy. They take up space, cost time to have them exchanged for dollars, and aren't even accepted at parking meters or toll booths. Its time to do away with the penny.