Penny-Wise Ideas Not Just a Flip of the Coin

Congressional moves to eliminate the one-cent coin go back to the 1960s (“Days of Penny Pinching May Be Numbered,” July 29). When copper prices rose to $1.50 a pound, the lowly cent was worth more for its copper content than one cent. Also, when silver was eliminated from our dime, quarter and half dollar in 1965, the idea of dropping the cent once again was considered. In 1982 the cent was reduced in content and weight--it has been 99% zinc with a copper plating and only 2.5 grams versus 3.1 grams. As the director of the U.S. Mint asserts, making the cent still generates a profit.

Your subhead stating that “collectors . . . are up in arms” is totally inaccurate. I represent the largest collector society, and our members almost uniformly agree that the cent is about to run out of time. We are interested in coins of yesteryear and in the occasional rarity, such as the 1995 cent made in the Philadelphia Mint with a doubled motto or the 1990 proof cent made in San Francisco without the “S” mint mark. The continued production of multibillions of cents each year provides no interest to collectors, I assure you.

Sol Taylor

Founder and President, Society

of Lincoln Cent Collectors

Sherman Oaks

I’m not sure what caught my attention the most. It was either the article about the penny becoming obsolete or the Aaron Brothers “one-cent frame sale” half-page ad directly below the article.

Maybe the penny is not dead yet. Just thought I’d throw my two cents in.

David Mines

Culver City