Lucas: Trying to make cents of the penny’s demise
**The Penny’s Fall from Grace: A Symbol of Change and Controversy**
Once a cherished symbol of American currency, the penny has now become a source of frustration and debate. With the cost of producing a penny exceeding its actual value—nearly four cents to mint each one—the penny’s relevance has come into question. This shift in perception has been underscored by President Donald Trump’s recent directive to halt penny production, a move that some see as a reflection of broader economic realities. The phrase “Pennies from Heaven” may soon be a relic of the past, as the government pivots away from this once-proud coin.
The conversation surrounding the penny could soon expand to include other coins, as the production costs for nickels, dimes, and quarters are similarly inflated, costing 14, six, and 15 cents respectively to mint. This raises the question of whether these coins will face a similar fate as the penny. Interestingly, Trump’s decision to eliminate the penny was made without significant opposition from Senate Democrats, who might have turned it into a political battleground. The article humorously suggests that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer could have used this opportunity to engage in a more relatable debate about the penny, but instead, he missed the chance to rally public sentiment around a common issue.
While the penny may be on its way out, it remains a part of American history and culture. The U.S. Mint has been producing pennies since 1793, and Lincoln’s visage has adorned the coin since 1909. Even though new pennies will no longer enter circulation, billions of them are still out there, ensuring their presence in everyday transactions. The article highlights the resilience of both the penny and the American spirit, drawing parallels between the two. Just as pennies have survived various economic challenges, so too have many aspects of American life, suggesting that while the penny’s production may cease, its legacy will endure. As we navigate these changes in currency, it’s a reminder that even the smallest denominations hold significant cultural weight in the tapestry of American history.
Once a proud coin of the realm, the penny has become a pest. It gets no respect.
And the penny is not even worth one cent anymore. It costs the government nearly four cents to mint one penny.
No wonder President Donald Trump ordered its demise. So in the future, every time it rains it won’t rain “Pennies from Heaven.”
Speaking about loose change, the nickel, dime and quarter will be next on the hit list before you know it. It costs 14 cents, or 14 pennies, to make a nickel, six cents to make a dime, and 15 cents to make a quarter.
And Trump did the penny pinching without Sen. Chuck Schumer and the Democrats fighting to save the penny by shutting the government down over it. He did it without even offering Schumer a penny for his thoughts.
Realistically, “Shutdown Schumer” would have been better off had he shut down the government to save the penny.
“In for penny, in for a pound,” a fighting Schumer could have said. After all, a penny saved is a penny earned.
But when he learned that Trump secretly planned to replace Abraham Lincoln on the face of the penny with his own image, he balked. It was a bad penny of an idea after all.
Unnamed and nonexistent sources said Schumer called it a “penny-ante” kind of a deal in the first place.
Of course, Trump had no such plans to replace Lincoln on the penny. But whatever Trump planned the Democrats would have attacked him on it anyway. Trump may not like pennies, but he likes Lincoln.
Besides, my imaginary White House sources say that Trump, after shooting down idea of replacing President John F. Kennedy on the old half-dollar coin, is planning to replace George Washington on the $1 bill.
Under his picture it will read, “IN TRUMP WE TRUST.”
He plans to do that at the opening ceremony of the new Trump Ballroom he is building at the East Wing of the White House, which has cost a pretty penny even if the money to pay for it came from private sources and not taxpayers.
Still, challenging Trump over the abolition of the penny is something that people could have related to. Everybody has pennies, whether they want to get rid of them or not. Pennies are everywhere.
Which is why — putting my two cents in — at Market Basket I always say “Close enough” to the change, including pennies, the part-time high school cashiers — having difficulty making change — give me back.
And it would have been a better way to challenge Trump rather than shut down the government and institute payless paydays for the military, air traffic controllers and government workers, while threatening needy people to go without food.
It was a Schumer Shutdown over nothing.
In the event you have not been watching every penny, Trump ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to stop making new pennies in February. Last week the U.S. Mint ended their production.
The Mint has been producing them since 1793. Lincoln’s image was put on the penny in 1909.
While no new pennies will be manufactured, there are billions of them in circulation and they will be around for a while, like many other government programs.
Pennies, like the American people, are rugged survivors. During World War II, for instance, pennies were zinc-coated to save copper for the war effort. But they bounced back after we won the war.
We have lived with pennies all our lives. Pennies are American history.
And they will still be around, outlasting people, politicians, popes, pundits, poets, paupers and presidents.
Save the cent.
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas can be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com
(AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
