This week I just encountered the best article I have read in the decade I have been studying future coins. Of highest priority is the elimination of the cent in circulation. By not changing the composition, not striking cents in steel (or plastic, or cardboard, or whatever). Don't strike cents at all. Abolish the cent.

Writer Dana O. Crandell came up with 10 reasons why. I will paraphrase these:

1. Low purchasing power, you can't buy anything with a cent.

2. Costing taxpayers more than face value to mint cents.

3. Plastic replacing coins and paper money.

4. Cents dropping out of circulation.

5. More realistic pricing by rounding off.

6. Cents worth more as bullion (or collectors' items).

7. Conserve natural resources.

8. Half Cent good example, no body misses.

9. Other country's success in abolishing lowest value coin.

10. Step towards "cashless" commerce.

I responded with a lengthy reply, I liked the article so well. Here it is:

To read the complete article, see:10 Reasons We No Longer Need the Penny(www.savingadvice.com/articles/2012/03/22/109917_10-reasons
-we-no-longer-need-the-penny.html)