美國財政部已正式作出了最後的空白便士，標誌著單美分硬幣的結局

美國財政部已正式做出了最後的空白便士訂單，這標誌著一美分硬幣的結束開始，該硬幣已經流通了兩個世紀。

The U.S. Treasury has officially placed its last order for blank pennies, kicking off the beginning of the end for the one-cent coin, which has been in circulation for more than two centuries.

美國財政部已正式下達了空白便士的最後訂單，這是一美分硬幣的結束開始，該硬幣已經流通了兩個世紀以上。

“[T]he United States Mint will continue to manufacture pennies while an inventory of penny blanks exists,” a Treasury Department spokesperson told NBC News on Thursday, with the last of the new pennies set to enter circulation early next year.

財政部發言人周四對NBC新聞說：“美國造幣廠將繼續製造便士，而一分錢卻存在。”

Last year was the 19th consecutive fiscal year that the cost of producing the coin was above its face value. In 2024, the cost of making the penny increased 20%, according to a report from the U.S. Mint. The one-cent coin currently costs the government 3.69 cents to make. Halting penny production is expected to save taxpayers $56 million annually.

去年是連續第19財政年度，生產硬幣的成本高於其面值。根據美國造幣廠的一份報告，2024年，賺錢的成本增加了20％。目前，單美分的硬幣使政府賺取3.69美分。預計一分錢生產將為納稅人節省5600萬美元。

Without new pennies entering circulation, the supply of the coin will eventually dry up and force businesses to round prices to the nearest nickel. However, nickels also boast high production costs; each five-cent coin costs the U.S. Mint 13.78 cents to make.

如果沒有新的便士進入流通，硬幣的供應最終將變乾，並迫使企業將價格舍入至最近的鎳。但是，鎳也擁有高生產成本。每五美分的硬幣要花13.78美分。

One-third of Americans said they don't use pennies in their daily lives, the highest share for any denomination.

三分之一的美國人說，他們在日常生活中不使用便士，這是任何教派的最高份額。

Proposals to eliminate the penny have come from both sides of the aisle. Earlier this month, Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon joined forces to introduce the Make Sense Not Cents Act.

消除一分錢的提議來自過道的兩面。本月初，猶他州的共和黨參議員邁克·李（Mike Lee）和俄勒岡州的民主黨參議員傑夫·默克利（Jeff Merkley）聯手引入了有意義的不是美分。

“It’s the opposite of ‘common cents’ for taxpayers’ dollars to fund wasteful spending like producing pennies,” Merkley said in a statement. “[T]hat is something that both Democrats and Republicans support to seriously take on government waste.”

默克利在一份聲明中說：“納稅人的美元與浪費的支出（如生產便士）相反，這是'普通美分'的對立面。” “這是民主黨人和共和黨人都支持認真對待政府浪費的事情。”

President Donald Trump has also pushed the Treasury Department to stop minting new pennies. “For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful!” Trump wrote on Truth Social in February. “I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies.”

唐納德·特朗普總統還推動財政部停止鑄造新的便士。 “很久以來，美國已經鑄造了幾分錢，這實際上使我們花費了2美分。這太浪費了！”特朗普在二月份寫了《真理社交》。 “我已經指示我的美國財政部長停止生產新的便士。”

While Congress has the authority over the discontinuation or elimination of coins, the Treasury Department can halt new production.

儘管國會有權停止或消除硬幣，但財政部可以停止新生產。

A recent YouGov poll found that 42% of Americans favored eliminating the penny, while 30% opposed. In that same survey, one-third of Americans said they don't use pennies in their daily lives, the highest share for any denomination.

最近的Yougov民意調查發現，有42％的美國人讚成消除一分錢，而30％的人反對。在同一調查中，三分之一的美國人說，他們在日常生活中不使用便士，這是任何教派的最高份額。

The last time a coin denomination was discontinued was in 1857, when Congress eliminated the half-cent coin.

最後一次停產的硬幣面額是在1857年，當時國會淘汰了半美分的硬幣。