美国造币厂、便士和流通：一个时代的终结？

两个多世纪后，美国造币厂已停止生产便士。我们深入研究原因、历史以及这对您的零钱意味着什么。

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，伙计们，我们来谈谈便士吧。 230 多年后，美国造币厂已正式停止生产这些小铜（或镀铜锌）圆盘。这对你、你的备用零钱罐以及美国人节俭的本质意味着什么？

The Last Penny: A Moment in History

最后一分钱：历史时刻

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.

周三，费城铸币厂印出最后一枚硬币，标志着一个时代的结束。美国财长布兰登·比奇甚至亲自按下了按钮！但不用担心，您当前的储备仍然是法定货币。

Why Pull the Plug on the Penny?

为什么要拔掉便士的插头？

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.

事情是这样的：赚一分钱的成本比它的实际价值要高。我们说的是 3.69 美分才能生产一枚 1 美分硬币！前总统特朗普亲自指出这是浪费。美国造币厂报告称，2024 财年的便士生产损失高达 8530 万美元。

The Penny's Long and Winding Road

便士的漫长而曲折的道路

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.

您知道第一枚硬币（称为 Fugio 美分）是由回收的火药桶带制成的吗？官方发行的一美分硬币于 1793 年首次亮相，最初尺寸为 25 美分硬币。直到 1909 年，林肯的马克杯才出现在硬币上。据美国造币厂称，这些年来，硬币的设计和材质经历了许多变化。

What Happens Now?

现在发生了什么？

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.

不会有新的硬币进入流通。目前仍有大约 3000 亿便士在流通。最后铸造的便士将被拍卖，而不是花掉。一些零售商正在调整价格或提供激励措施来应对零钱短缺的问题，而一些银行则对便士供应进行配给。

A Sentimental Goodbye

感伤的告别

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."

当然，现在一分钱可能买不到太多东西（一分钱糖果？忘了它吧！）。但它在我们的文化中占有特殊的地位。我们“精打细算”，梦想“从天而降”，并避开那些“小聪明大傻”的人。

My Take: Good Riddance (Mostly)!

我的看法：摆脱困境（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!

虽然我会怀念装满便士的罐子发出的令人满意的叮当声，但说实话，它们大多最终都放在钱包和抽屉的底部。正如造币厂计划的那样，每年释放 5600 万美元，听起来像是一场胜利。另外，也许这最终会迫使我们拥抱一个真正的无现金社会。谁知道呢，也许我们可以让每个人的交易变得更容易！

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，当我们告别流通的便士时，让我们为一段美国历史举杯（或者也许只是数一下我们的零钱）。嘿，也许你罐子里的那些便士即将成为收藏品。查清！