Lucas: Trying to make cents of the penny’s demise
The penny, once a cherished coin in American currency, has recently become a topic of debate and ridicule, highlighting its diminishing value and relevance in modern society. As it stands, it costs the U.S. government nearly four cents to mint a single penny, rendering it economically unviable. This financial burden has prompted discussions around its potential abolition, with former President Donald Trump even suggesting its demise. The sentiment surrounding the penny reflects a broader trend of questioning the practicality of low-denomination coins, with the nickel, dime, and quarter also facing scrutiny due to their production costs, which exceed their face values.
In a satirical twist, the article explores the political implications of the penny’s potential removal, particularly focusing on the reactions from key political figures like Senator Chuck Schumer. The piece humorously imagines a scenario where Schumer could have leveraged the penny’s fate as a rallying point against Trump’s administration, instead of allowing a government shutdown over what is described as a “penny-ante” issue. The author cleverly intertwines historical context, noting that the penny has been in circulation since 1793 and has even adapted during wartime, showcasing its resilience. Despite the cessation of new penny production, the billions already in circulation ensure that the coin will remain a part of American life for the foreseeable future, embodying a sense of nostalgia and historical significance.
Ultimately, the article serves as a commentary not just on the fate of the penny, but on the broader themes of value, tradition, and political strategy. It suggests that while the penny may be seen as a nuisance by some, it represents a piece of American history that has endured through various challenges. The author argues for the preservation of the penny, emphasizing its role in everyday transactions and its connection to the American identity. As the discussion around currency continues, the fate of the penny stands as a reminder of the complexities involved in balancing economic practicality with cultural heritage.
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)
