美國造幣廠、便士和流通：一個時代的終結？

兩個多世紀後，美國造幣廠已停止生產便士。我們深入研究原因、歷史以及這對您的零錢意味著什麼。

Alright, folks, let's talk pennies. After over 230 years, the U.S. Mint has officially stopped cranking out those little copper (or copper-plated zinc) discs. What does this mean for you, your spare change jar, and the very fabric of American frugality?

好吧，伙計們，我們來談談便士吧。 230 多年後，美國造幣廠已正式停止生產這些小銅（或鍍銅鋅）圓盤。這對你、你的備用零錢罐以及美國人節儉的本質意味著什麼？

The Last Penny: A Moment in History

最後一分錢：歷史時刻

The final penny rolled off the presses at the Philadelphia Mint on Wednesday, marking the end of an era. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach even hit the button himself! But don't worry, your current stash is still legal tender.

週三，費城鑄幣廠印出最後一枚硬幣，標誌著一個時代的結束。美國財長佈蘭登·比奇甚至親自按下了按鈕！但不用擔心，您當前的儲備仍然是法定貨幣。

Why Pull the Plug on the Penny?

為什麼要拔掉便士的插頭？

Here's the deal: it costs more to make a penny than it's actually worth. We're talking about 3.69 cents to produce a single 1-cent coin! Former President Trump called it out himself, saying it was wasteful. The U.S. Mint reported losing a whopping $85.3 million on penny production in fiscal year 2024.

事情是這樣的：賺一分錢的成本比它的實際價值要高。我們說的是 3.69 美分才能生產一枚 1 美分硬幣！前總統特朗普親自指出這是浪費。美國造幣廠報告稱，2024 財年的便士生產損失高達 8530 萬美元。

The Penny's Long and Winding Road

便士的漫長而曲折的道路

Did you know the first pennies, called Fugio cents, were made from recycled powder keg bands? The official one-cent piece debuted in 1793 and was initially the size of a quarter. Lincoln's mug didn't grace the coin until 1909. The penny has gone through many design and material changes throughout the years, according to the U.S. Mint.

您知道第一枚硬幣（稱為 Fugio 美分）是由回收的火藥桶帶製成的嗎？官方發行的一美分硬幣於 1793 年首次亮相，最初尺寸為 25 美分硬幣。直到 1909 年，林肯的馬克杯才出現在硬幣上。據美國造幣廠稱，這些年來，硬幣的設計和材質經歷了許多變化。

What Happens Now?

現在發生了什麼？

No new pennies will be entering circulation. There are still approximately 300 billion pennies floating around. The final pennies minted are set to be auctioned off, not spent. Some retailers are rounding prices or offering incentives to deal with the change shortage, while some banks are rationing their penny supplies.

不會有新的硬幣進入流通。目前仍有大約 3000 億便士在流通。最後鑄造的便士將被拍賣，而不是花掉。一些零售商正在調整價格或提供激勵措施來應對零錢短缺的問題，而一些銀行則對便士供應進行配給。

A Sentimental Goodbye

感傷的告別

Sure, the penny might not buy you much these days (penny candy? Forget about it!). But it holds a special place in our culture. We "pinch pennies," dream of "pennies from heaven," and avoid those who are "penny wise and pound foolish."

當然，現在一分錢可能買不到太多東西（一分錢糖果？忘了它吧！）。但它在我們的文化中佔有特殊的地位。我們“精打細算”，夢想“從天而降”，並避開那些“小聰明大傻”的人。

My Take: Good Riddance (Mostly)!

我的看法：擺脫困境（大部分）！

While I'll miss the satisfying clink of a jar full of pennies, let's be real, they mostly end up in the bottom of purses and drawers. Freeing up $56 million annually, as the Mint projects, sounds like a win. Plus, maybe this will finally force us to embrace a truly cashless society. Who knows, maybe we can make transactions easier for everyone!

雖然我會懷念裝滿便士的罐子發出的令人滿意的叮噹聲，但說實話，它們大多最終都放在錢包和抽屜的底部。正如造幣廠計劃的那樣，每年釋放 5600 萬美元，聽起來像是一場胜利。另外，也許這最終會迫使我們擁抱一個真正的無現金社會。誰知道呢，也許我們可以讓每個人的交易變得更容易！

So, as we bid farewell to the circulating penny, let's raise a glass (or maybe just count our spare change) to a piece of American history. And hey, maybe those pennies in your jar are about to become collector's items. Cha-ching!

因此，當我們告別流通的便士時，讓我們為一段美國歷史舉杯（或者也許只是數一下我們的零錢）。嘿，也許你罐子裡的那些便士即將成為收藏品。查清！