The Journal. Stop Making Cents: The End of the Penny
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Jun 2, 2025 
Oyin Adedoyin, a personal finance reporter at The Wall Street Journal, dives into the controversial decision to phase out the penny. The conversation explores the troubling cost of minting each penny, which exceeds its value. As the Treasury makes this historical shift, they discuss the cultural significance of the penny and the fears it may lead to inflation. Advocates for the penny argue its emotional value and impact on cash transactions, leaving us pondering the future of low denomination coins in our increasingly cashless society.
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Penny's Cultural Journey
- The penny traveled far, even to Mars, and found its way into household places like couch cushions and fountains.
- Many generations have interacted with the penny, making it a personal and cultural fixture.
Penny Debate: Practicality vs Sentimentality
- The debate about the penny is practicality versus sentimentality.
- Once a symbol of freedom and hard work, it's now seen as America's wastefulness.
Penny Symbolizes Independence
- The penny symbolized America's independence from British monarchy with Lady Liberty's image.
- Abraham Lincoln's face replaced it in 1909, becoming the familiar symbol loved today.