U.S. Treasury will stop minting pennies →

Jennifer Mattson, writing for Fast Company:

Like many things these days, it turns out the cost of making a penny is a lot more expensive than it used to be—over 20% more in 2024, to be precise, according to the Treasury. Blame it on higher costs of production and materials, but either way, the U.S. lost more than $85 million making the penny last year, per The Wall Street Journal. Halting production is expected to save taxpayers $56 million annually.

Honestly, what the hell took so long?…but it gets even more annoying:

However, a look at the numbers also shows that nickels cost even more money to produce at 13.8 cents each, or 11 cents for production costs plus 2.8 cents for administrative and distribution, based on the most recent fiscal year, per CNN.

Soon it won’t matter because paper currency is going the way of the fax machine. Still in existence? Sure, but whenever someone suggests you use it there is a moment of shock and disdain.