The move is in part a reaction to the rising cost of zinc - the penny's main ingredient - which at current prices brings the cost of making the coin to 1.4 cents each.

Last time I clipped this, the cost of making a penny was only 1.23 cents. Pennies are spiraling out of control!

Please please get rid of the pennies!! I never use them. They fill up my console in my car and every container in my house.

theDaryl . . . gets great idea. . . melt down all my pennies and sell the zinc back to the Govt.

But Daryl, you shouldn't tell this openly. If everybody does the same, then the zinc prices would quickly fall! Keep quiet!

I consider myself rich with pennies!

In the other pocket.... if we round off sales, how would one do that if no pennies are exchanged. IE: $12.82 becomes $12.80 or $12.85? And if it's $12.85, who benefits from the extra 3 cents? The merchant or the govt? I doubt that the govt will allow us to "write it off."

hmmm.... a penny for your thoughts.....

Whaat? No one wants a penny for their thoughts? jeesh. I wonder how that metaphor will go down in history now. We'll have to say, "Nickel for your thoughts..." Just not the same. I think I'll go write my congress(wo)/man.

i would love this change!

I read somewhere that you can't pay more than a total of 20p in pennies in the UK....I paid 5 bucks in nickels and dimes at a corner shop once....the shopkeeper hasn't smiled at me since....