End of US Pennies

The US Mint creates America's coins(硬币). It made its final group of pennies(便士) on November 12, ending 232 years of production of the one-cent coin.

The US president(总统) called for an end to penny production earlier in the year, and lawmakers supported the decision. It cost the Mint nearly four cents to make and hand out each penny, and it is said that the US can save $56 million a year by no longer producing the coins.

As long as pennies are still used, they can still be used as legal(合法的) money for shopping and payments. Many businesses do not have enough of these coins. So these businesses change their goods’ (货物的) prices up or down by five cents every time. Or they ask customers to pay the exact amount(金额) of money.

A Mint worker called the end of the penny “a meaningful day”, and reporters praised the coin for being part of US history. The coin also caused the creation of phrases such as “a penny for your thoughts” and “worth every penny”.

Even common things, like the penny, will make way for new ones. This kind of replacement(替代) is an important part of development.