最後一分錢：美國造幣廠取消了這枚硬幣——這意味著什麼？

由於成本超過價值，費城的美國造幣廠停止生產便士。這對收藏家、零售商和鑄幣的未來有何影響？

The Last Penny: US Mint Cancels the Coin – What Does It Mean?

最後一分錢：美國造幣廠取消了這枚硬幣——這意味著什麼？

So, the penny's finally biting the dust, huh? After years of costing more to make than it's actually worth, the U.S. Mint is calling it quits on the one-cent coin. What does this mean for your spare change jar and the future of American coinage?

那麼，一分錢終於塵埃落定了，是吧？經過多年的製造成本高於其實際價值後，美國造幣廠宣布停止生產一美分硬幣。這對您的備用零錢罐和美國鑄幣的未來意味著什麼？

The End of an Era at the US Mint

美國造幣廠一個時代的終結

The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, birthplace of American coinage, has struck its last circulating penny. President Trump pulled the plug, citing the soaring costs – nearly 4 cents to mint a single penny. With its value diminished in our digital age, the penny’s time has come.

位於美國鑄幣發源地費城的美國造幣廠鑄造了最後一枚流通的便士。特朗普總統以成本飆升為由終止了這一計劃——鑄造一便士的成本接近 4 美分。隨著數字時代的價值逐漸減弱，一分錢的時代已經到來。

Why Cancel the Penny? The Cost Conundrum

為什麼取消便士？成本難題

Trump highlighted the wastefulness of minting pennies that cost more than their face value. The Treasury Department anticipates saving a cool $56 million annually by halting production. Ironically, while the penny faced the axe, the nickel's high production cost (nearly 14 cents) dodged the bullet... for now.

特朗普強調了鑄造成本高於面值的便士的浪費行為。財政部預計通過停止生產每年可節省 5600 萬美元。具有諷刺意味的是，當便士面臨斧頭時，鎳的高生產成本（近 14 美分）卻暫時躲過了子彈。

Retailers and the Penny Phase-Out

零售商和便士的淘汰

The phase-out wasn't exactly smooth. Retailers scrambled, receiving little guidance on handling transactions. Some rounded down prices, others begged for exact change, and the creative ones offered freebies for a handful of pennies. As Jeff Lenard of the National Association of Convenience Stores said, while they've advocated abolishing the penny for 30 years, this wasn't the ideal execution.

淘汰過程並不順利。零售商們手忙腳亂，幾乎沒有得到處理交易的指導。一些人將價格四捨五入，另一些人要求準確的找零，而有創意的人則以幾美分的價格提供免費贈品。正如全國便利店協會的 Jeff Lenard 所說，雖然他們 30 年來一直主張廢除便士，但這並不是理想的執行方式。

The Penny's Legacy

便士的遺產

Despite its practical obsolescence, the penny holds a certain nostalgia. Some see it as lucky, others collect them. Historians like Frank Holt view coins as vital records of society, reflecting our politics, religion, art, and ideals. Even though they're becoming scarcer, the legacy will remain.

儘管它實際上已經過時了，但一分錢仍保留著一定的懷舊之情。有些人認為這是幸運的，另一些人則收集它們。弗蘭克·霍爾特等歷史學家將硬幣視為社會的重要記錄，反映了我們的政治、宗教、藝術和理想。儘管它們變得越來越稀缺，但遺產仍將保留。

Looking Ahead: What's Next for US Coinage?

展望未來：美國硬幣的下一步是什麼？

With the penny gone, what's next for our pockets? Will the nickel be next? The debate over the cost and utility of small-denomination coins is far from over. One thing's for sure: your spare change jar is about to get a whole lot lighter. Think about it: a penny could get you a biscuit back in 1793. These days? Mostly drawer clutter. So long, little guy; you will be missed... by some.

錢沒了，我們的口袋接下來該何去何從？下一個會是鎳嗎？關於小面額硬幣的成本和實用性的爭論還遠未結束。有一點是肯定的：您的備用零錢罐將會變得輕很多。想一想：在 1793 年，一分錢就能買到一塊餅乾。現在呢？主要是抽屜雜亂。再見，小傢伙；有些人會想念你的。