A Penny for Your Thoughts

In 2013, the Canadian government announced that it would be phasing out the penny from circulation. The last penny was minted in May of that year, and since then, Canadians have had to adjust to a world without this iconic coin. While some people were sad to see the penny go, many others saw it as a positive change that would simplify transactions and save money for the government.

One of the main reasons that the penny was eliminated was because it was becoming too expensive to produce. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, it cost 1.6 cents to produce a single penny. This meant that the government was losing money every time it produced a penny, and the cost of producing them was only going up. By eliminating the penny, the government was able to save approximately $11 million per year in production costs.

Another reason for eliminating the penny was to simplify transactions. With fewer coins to handle, cashiers are able to process transactions more quickly, which reduces wait times for customers. It also means that customers don’t have to deal with as many coins when making purchases, making it easier to carry cash and making transactions faster and more efficient.

One of the concerns with eliminating the penny was the impact it would have on charities that relied on penny drives and other fundraising campaigns that used pennies. However, many charities were able to adapt and find alternative ways to raise funds. For example, some charities started accepting electronic donations instead of cash, while others simply rounded up their fundraising goals to the nearest nickel.

Overall, the elimination of the penny has had a positive impact on the Canadian economy. It has simplified transactions and made cash transactions faster and more efficient. While some people miss the penny, most Canadians have adjusted to the new system and appreciate the benefits of a world without it.