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38°December 19, 2012 in Nation/World
US Mint testing new metals to make coins cheaper
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — When it comes to making coins, the Mint isn’t getting its two cents worth. In some cases, it doesn’t even get half of that: A penny costs more than two cents to make and a nickel costs more than 10 cents.
Dick Peterson, the Mint’s acting director, says the problem is figuring out how to make coins more cheaply without sparing our change’s quality and durability, or altering its size and appearance.
A 400-page report presented last week to Congress outlines nearly two years of tests at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia.
Evaluations …
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This undated photo provided on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia shows a nonsense test piece. The Mint has been testing different materials to fiend less expensive ways to make coins.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — When it comes to making coins, the Mint isn’t getting its two cents worth. In some cases, it doesn’t even get half of that: A penny costs more than two cents to make and a nickel costs more than 10 cents.
Dick Peterson, the Mint’s acting director, says the problem is figuring out how to make coins more cheaply without sparing our change’s quality and durability, or altering its size and appearance.
A 400-page report presented last week to Congress outlines nearly two years of tests at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia.
Evaluations of 29 different alloys concluded that none filled the bill. There’s more testing to be done in coming months.
© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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