Penny fact: the cost of pennies

Did you know that the production cost now exceeds the face value of the coin because of the continual increase in metal prices?

So just how much does it cost to make and distribute pennies? For the first time in history earlier this year, pennies cost more to make than their vale at 1.23 cents per penny. The USA today has a great article talking about the future of the penny (and the nickel) and the costs associated with producing the penny. The article states that the US Mint is one of the few government agencies still making money, which I found really interesting.

Curious to learn more? Check out the USA Today article here.