Realcent.org

highroller4321 wrote:http://mintnewsblog.com/2014/12/us-mint-2014-biennial-report-to-congress/

"In light of these concerns, the Mint now seems to be focusing research on “seamless” materials that would not represent a change in electromagnetic signature eliminating the switching costs to the private sector. The leading candidate seems to be an alloy of 80% copper and 20% nickel. Basically, this would only modestly shift the proportions of metals in the current nickel, dime, and quarter to reduce the copper component.
The Mint’s conclusions stated that there are no alternative metal compositions to reduce the unit cost of the cent below its face value. The prospect or potential of eliminating the denomination was not mentioned or addressed."

Sullysullinburg wrote:

highroller4321 wrote:http://mintnewsblog.com/2014/12/us-mint-2014-biennial-report-to-congress/

"In light of these concerns, the Mint now seems to be focusing research on “seamless” materials that would not represent a change in electromagnetic signature eliminating the switching costs to the private sector. The leading candidate seems to be an alloy of 80% copper and 20% nickel. Basically, this would only modestly shift the proportions of metals in the current nickel, dime, and quarter to reduce the copper component.
The Mint’s conclusions stated that there are no alternative metal compositions to reduce the unit cost of the cent below its face value. The prospect or potential of eliminating the denomination was not mentioned or addressed."

If there is no way to fix the penny then why don't we just get rid of it???

ZenOps wrote:Must be a misprint. The current dime and quarter are already 8.33% nickel and 91.67% copper. Moving to 20% nickel would be more expensive (nickel being as high as $23/pound)

Maybe they meant to say 80% copper and 20% zinc. Zinc is hovering around $1 per pound.

mhh wrote:The outer layers of the dime, quarter and half-dollar are 75% copper and 25% nickel; the core is 100% copper. The 80% copper, 20% nickel proposal probably refers to the outer layers only; this would indeed be a modest shift.

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