Community Voice Responses (5/12/2015)

From the April 17 Numismatic News E-Newsletter:

Will politicians ever succeed in abolishing the cent?

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers to Editor Dave Harper.

Probably not as it reflects well our lack of common sense. We Americans are viewed as a stupid people by the rest of the world.

Wesley Ellis
Portland, Ore.

The politicians will never abolish the cent, but the economy will make it useless except to collectors and it will vanish except in special sets.

I am assuming the Mint can continue to produce the coins needed and thus can reduce the number of coins produced. Congress could change this but probably not without ridicule that would interfere with elections.

James E. Bridges
Austin, Texas

Cents abolished? I don’t think I’ll ever see that. I think the Lincoln design will stick too. Tradition. Everyone is used to it, and people don’t like change to their change. Dollar coins never caught on either.

Ginger Rapsus
Chicago, Ill.

Hopefully not. I would like the cent to continue.

William A. Johnston
San Antonio, Texas

After so many years of discussion, I’m resigning to the fact that it will never happen. It boils down to two words, political pork.

Yes, I for one (of many privately) believe it boils down to this. Many political areas are so used to added income derived from this that no one wishes to “trim the fat” so to speak. We all have to do this in our households (NN included). This will save many dollars along the processing and distribution system, monies that can be used more wisely.

Gary Kess
Berkel en Rodenrijs, Netherlands

I seriously doubt this will happen any time soon. The cent is like apple pie and hot dogs, an American Institution. It is collected worldwide.

I think a steel cent will somehow emerge from all the hoopla around the price to make a cent also.

Of course I have a vested interest as a cent error collector, so I’m being a bit biased here.

Tom Curtiss
The Berkshires, Mass.