Options
The Mint Should Make a Real Copper Cent
BuffaloIronTail
Posts: 7,788 ✭✭✭✭✭
Why?
Why not?
For cryin out loud, the Mint already produces 90% Silver for collectors.
A REAL Lincoln, not a Zincoln, should be coined for collectors with the Shield reverse and include it in the Silver Mint Sets.
Pete
"I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
12
Comments
No reason it could not be done...and collectors would certainly appreciate it. Then, occasionally, one would get out in the wild and make a neat find....
Cheers, RickO
They do .999 silver now for collectors. It probably has to do with legislation. Until it was recently changed the language was that they could only do circulating coin silver in 0.900 fineness. It was changed to say not less than 0.900. Perhaps the legislation doesn’t allow for the bronze alloy 95% Cu anymore? Besides, it’s a big profit markup for the mint.
I agree.
I remember the 2009 Lincoln anniversary satin sets were made using the pre 1982 composition.
At time I remember thinking that was a great idea.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
They could do it for the Proof sets, but nothing else. The cent already costs more than a cent to produce it, and restoring the copper would only make it more expensive.
BTW I think that you want a bronze cent, not pure copper. Bronze, which contains 5% zinc, is more stable.
they can spend billions overseas but can't do the us collectors something good like that. jmo
That's an interesting idea. I'm thinking for commems. I'm shocked nobody has ever mentioned this before.
There's a lot to this idea if we had decent artwork to put on it. I like it.
Think of the line to purchase that if it were released at a coin show.
Good idea.
Something special thoughtfully done ..... to spruce up moderns would be very good for the Mint's.
I agree. The could add a little relief back to the design while they’re at it.
They’ve definitely completed the numismatic doctorate degree coursework in autocad design.
I totally agree.
BuffaloIronTail gets the unofficial forum "Great Idea of the Year Award".
They should make a silver half dime again for collectors.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
We should amend that to "Recycled Idea of the Year Award" LOL. The Mint did it in 2009 and you can still feel the excitement, can't you?
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Since the Mint already loses money on all their annual coin sets, is there a reason we feel they should lose MORE money?
Personally, I think a composition change on a coin in a proof set is kind of meaningless. I mean, what's the difference? It will look the same. It's only available in the special set. It certainly wouldn't get me to buy one....well, unless thy limit the mintage to 10k sets in which case I'm lining up everyone I know to buy one.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
https://ebay.com/itm/2009-S-Lincoln-Bicentennial-Presidency-NGC-PR69RD-Ultra-Cameo/333448020350?hash=item4da30d017e%3Ag%3Aj3QAAOSwtFxb4PCN&LH_BIN=1
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
I disagree. Have you actually looked at a proof silver quarter vs. the clad version? The coin presents much better in silver, IMHO. I also find the look of pre-1982 cents clearly superior to modern ones, especially as they age. Proofs are the mint's opportunity to present the year's coinage in the best possible way. Using premium metals (at least as an option) makes sense to me.
No reason it could not be done
of course it can be done, but I seem to recall that in 2009 when it was done there were some real problems and it affected operations at the Philadelphia Mint.
I had no idea the the Mint was making proof cents with the zinc formulation. But I have noticed the toning is different than on bronze cents. Saving money on proof coins where they set the price is not excusable. I just recently started acquiring modern proof cents for a registry set that extends to present date.
OINK
If they made the Lincoln fully out of copper for the silver proof that would be a good thing.
Fine. Make one last copper cent, and then let's be done with them.... forever. Nickels too.
No ... I don't think so, leave the new cent in place.
The cent should continue to be a part of Proof and Mint sets, like the half dollar. It is the only U.S. coin that can be collected for every year from 1793 to date with the exception of the year 1815. It has been a fundamental collectors’ item in the US since the mid 1800s.
Makes me think that’s an awesome idea to have a copper for proof sets
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
This is not a bad idea. I could get behind that.
Let’s face it though, we can’t be smart in this country until we can stop being stupid. There is zero economic or commercial need yet we still tax ourselves so we can make them by the billions.
Time to stop producing the cent at all (and the half while were at it). Canada killed their cent with no adverse issues, no reason why we can't.
That was my next question....I almost started a new post but it fits so well here....WHY won't the US Mint discontinue the cent?
Zinc lobbyists. Some company somewhere would lose a sweetheart deal. Someone at that company probably knows a senator or two. The nickel also affects the the vending machine industry and they make all sorts of noise when change is in the air, no pun intended.
We don't need either. When the half-cent was discontinued in 1857 (for insufficient purchasing power) it would buy what 15 cents does today. The cent (worth $0.30 now) was all they needed.......
By that logic, we could get rid of the cent, nickel and dime and our commerce would be perfectly fine.
I say they should stop destroying the dollar.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
Asking me to remember 10 years back is asking a lot.
Is it possible that the cent should become aluminum, the nickel become CuNi, the dime become copper (but larger), the quarter become copper (but same size) and the half dollar silver, (but smaller).
Our coinage needs to maintain some intrinsic value despite the variations in the spot price of gold. It just has to be proportionate to real world value.
Problem would be with last generation vending machines........but is that the only purpose coins serve today....vending machine tokens?
OINK
Why? People grew to accept pieces of paper and then numbers stored on a hard drive at their bank as tokens of value.
The half cent was never popular and, unlike the cent, did not have a following. Therefore its demise had no effect. If you want tangible evidence, half cents dated from mid 1820s on are seldom found in less than Choice VF in terms of honest wear, not damage. The coin simply did not circulate that much.
Oddly, I remember 10 years ago better than I remember yesterday!
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
I always get a laugh reading statements like this from those with no skin in the game; you really have no idea the amount of backlash a nickel increase brings.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
I agree. 90% Copper is a real Cent!
100% Positive BST transactions
Because they have no authority to. The U.S. Congress controls such matters thru legislation. Talk to your congressional representatives.
"Some people say Citizen Kane or Casablanca. I say 'Jason and the Argonauts' is the greatest movie ever made.” Tom Hanks at The Oscars' Science & Technical Awards Ceremony for Ray Harryhausen, 1992