最后一分钱：美国造币厂取消了这枚硬币——这意味着什么？

由于成本超过价值，费城的美国造币厂停止生产便士。这对收藏家、零售商和铸币的未来有何影响？

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

最后一分钱：美国造币厂取消了这枚硬币——这意味着什么？

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?

那么，一分钱终于尘埃落定了，是吧？经过多年的制造成本高于其实际价值后，美国造币厂宣布停止生产一美分硬币。这对您的备用零钱罐和美国铸币的未来意味着什么？

The End of an Era at the US Mint

美国造币厂一个时代的终结

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.

位于美国铸币发源地费城的美国造币厂铸造了最后一枚流通的便士。特朗普总统以成本飙升为由终止了这一计划——铸造一便士的成本接近 4 美分。随着数字时代的价值逐渐减弱，一分钱的时代已经到来。

Why Cancel the Penny? The Cost Conundrum

为什么取消便士？成本难题

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.

特朗普强调了铸造成本高于面值的便士的浪费行为。财政部预计通过停止生产每年可节省 5600 万美元。具有讽刺意味的是，当便士面临斧头时，镍的高生产成本（近 14 美分）却暂时躲过了子弹。

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.

淘汰过程并不顺利。零售商们手忙脚乱，几乎没有得到处理交易的指导。一些人将价格四舍五入，另一些人要求准确的找零，而有创意的人则以几美分的价格提供免费赠品。正如全国便利店协会的 Jeff Lenard 所说，虽然他们 30 年来一直主张废除便士，但这并不是理想的执行方式。

The Penny's Legacy

便士的遗产

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.

尽管它实际上已经过时了，但一分钱仍保留着一定的怀旧之情。有些人认为这是幸运的，另一些人则收集它们。弗兰克·霍尔特等历史学家将硬币视为社会的重要记录，反映了我们的政治、宗教、艺术和理想。尽管它们变得越来越稀缺，但遗产仍将保留。

Looking Ahead: What's Next for US Coinage?

展望未来：美国硬币的下一步是什么？

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.

钱没了，我们的口袋接下来该何去何从？下一个会是镍吗？关于小面额硬币的成本和实用性的争论还远未结束。有一点是肯定的：您的备用零钱罐将会变得轻很多。想一想：在 1793 年，一分钱就能买到一块饼干。现在呢？主要是抽屉杂乱。再见，小家伙；有些人会想念你的。