Michael Foster
Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:17:10 -0700
Jones wrote:
> BTW - why do we continue to have pennies? What a waste
> of copper and *time* for clerks. I bet the net-cost of
> using pennies and even nickels is in the billions of
> wasted dollars. Let's get rid of this gigantic
> anachronism, ASAP !!!
Pennies aren't copper, or at least not much copper. Since '88 or '89 they've
been stamped from barrel plated zinc slugs. Up until recently they could
actually be made for less than a cent. I've amused myself by grinding the
copper off one side and using another penny to make a tiny Daniell cell. Yes,
I'm easily amused by such things.
But I agree with you. I'd take it a step futher and eliminate all the annoying
coinage except quarters. Besides, people are beginning to use credit or debit
cards for even small purchases now. When you see card readers at McDonald's you
know that cash is on the way out.
M.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ