By Theo Town

You might have clicked on this article because you don’t think a cent matters. If not, out of curiosity, take a moment to empty your wallet, bank, or pockets and count how many pennies you have. Chances are it’s less than 20 cents. Now, imagine dropping those coins on the floor—would you feel comfortable just walking away or giving them to someone else? Most people would likely say yes and not worry at all if that small amount of money vanished from their lives.

The Penny Fanatic

There was once a penny fanatic, Otha Anders. He gathered every penny he saw on the subway, street, and park. After 25 years, he made only $5,000, equivalent to the monthly salary of a fast food employee.

Are Pennies Truly Useless?

If you’re convinced by the idea of insignificance, let’s explore a broader question: Are pennies truly useless? Should we stop producing and using them altogether?

The Cost of Pennies

From manufacturing costs to transactions, pennies are just not worth the hassle for the government. They spend more than one cent to produce each penny (one penny costs exactly 2.7¢), meaning each coin is effectively draining the government. NOW THAT’S JUST ABSURD! Handling and counting these coins can be a burden for businesses and consumers alike.

The Time Wasted

The time wasted dealing with pennies is too much for a few cents in a time where speed is essential—from banking to a barista. As humans evolve towards cards more than cash, the value of pennies diminishes further.

Follow Up

I started writing this article five weeks ago, before Trump announced he would eradicate the penny, so this is an original article.