Today’s Atlantic Trivia: Whisk the Pennies Away
In a thought-provoking exploration of the term “factoid,” The Atlantic delves into its origins and implications in contemporary discourse. Coined by Norman Mailer in 1973, “factoid” refers to pieces of information that masquerade as facts but are, in fact, untrue. The article highlights the nuanced distinction between factoids and genuine facts, suggesting that the former can mislead and distort truth. This distinction is particularly relevant in an age where misinformation spreads rapidly, making it crucial to understand the integrity of the information we consume. To address the need for a term that encompasses small but accurate facts, William Safire proposed “factlet” in the 1990s, a suggestion that The Atlantic later embraced. The article playfully suggests alternative terms like “minifact” and “factini” for statements that straddle the line between truth and falsehood, emphasizing the importance of clarity in our communication.
The article also engages readers with a trivia section that exemplifies the type of knowledge being discussed. For instance, it poses questions about the composition of U.S. pennies, the traditional preparation of matcha tea, and the historical significance of broken chains in the design of the Statue of Liberty. These questions not only pique curiosity but also serve as a reminder of the rich tapestry of history and culture that surrounds seemingly mundane facts. The trivia format invites readers to participate actively, encouraging them to think critically about the information they encounter daily. As the article notes, the fate of the penny—now deemed too unvaluable to continue minting—mirrors broader trends in currency and value perception, posing questions about what we consider worth preserving in our collective memory.
In conclusion, The Atlantic’s exploration of factoids and trivia not only enriches our understanding of language and truth but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the historical and cultural contexts that shape our knowledge. As readers engage with these concepts, they are invited to reflect on the reliability of the information they encounter and the importance of discerning fact from fiction in an increasingly complex world. For those eager to expand their knowledge and test their trivia skills, The Atlantic offers a daily trivia challenge, reinforcing the idea that learning can be both fun and enlightening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vdLYMfQN3Q
If I have provided you with any factoids in the course of
Atlantic
Trivia, I apologize, because a factoid, properly, is
not
a small, interesting fact. A factoid is a piece of information that looks like a fact but is untrue. Norman Mailer popularized the term in 1973, very intentionally giving it the suffix
-oid
. Is a humanoid not a creature whose appearance suggests humanity but whose nature belies it? Thus is it with factoid.
So what of those fun, itty bits of info that are correct? In the 1990s, William Safire suggested
factlet
for the small-but-true fact (and
The Atlantic
in 2012 agreed
), though
minifact
is sometimes used. And for the statements somewhere in between interesting and untrue—
factini
, perhaps? Start with five parts fascinating to one part wrong; adjust to taste.
Find
last week’s questions here
, and to get
Atlantic
Trivia in your inbox every day,
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Atlantic
Daily
.
Monday, November 17, 2025
U.S. pennies are plated in copper but principally made of
what other metal
at the end of the alphabet?
— From Caity Weaver’s
“Pennies Are Trash Now”
What beverage
is traditionally made of ground
tencha
leaves, prepared with a whisk, and drunk from a ceramic bowl called a
cha-wan
?
— From Ellen Cushing’s
“The [REDACTED] Problem”
Broken chains and shackles were originally intended to be held in the left hand of
what American landmark
before a new design replaced those items with a tablet?
— From Clint Smith’s
“Tell Students the Truth About American History”
And by the way, did you know that for more than six decades the United States produced half-cent pieces? They were 100 percent copper and stamped with Lady Liberty, who sported a variety of hairdos over the years. The coin was almost the size of a modern quarter, which seems big until you consider that at the end of its run, the half-cent had a purchasing power of about 17 cents in today’s money.
Still, in 1857 it was deemed insufficiently valuable to keep minting—at 17 contemporary cents! Considering that the government is once again in the coin-discontinuing mood, the nickel and dime might want to watch out, too.
Until tomorrow!
Answers:
Zinc.
Penny minting abruptly stopped last week. The coins will soon drop out of circulation, and their composition—zinc is much less valuable than copper—makes them unappealing to recycle. What this means, Caity writes, is that those 300 billion pennies floating around are now Americans’ problem.
Read more.
Matcha.
This old-school Japanese preparation is a far piece from the energy drinks and sugary beverages that new companies are marketing as matcha. Ellen explores the ramifications of the collision between matcha’s tradition and its current world-historic demand.
Read more.
The Statue of Liberty.
The gift from France, Clint writes, was meant not just to welcome immigrants but also to celebrate America’s abolition of slavery; he wonders whether the change was intended to make the statue “more palatable” to a wider audience. That instinct has never gone away, and it’s the job of educators to resist it.
Read more.
How did you do? Come back tomorrow for more questions, or
click here for last week’s
. And if you think up a great question after reading an
Atlantic
story—or simply want to share a top-notch fact—send it my way at
trivia@theatlantic.com
.
