New Penny To Make Debut

This image provided by the US Mint shows the newly redesigned one-cent coin (penny). The obverse (heads side) will continue to bear the likeness of President Lincoln currently on the penny. The reverse (tails side) will reflect four different designs, each one representing a different aspect, or theme, of President Lincoln’s life. The themes for the reverse designs represent the four major aspects of Abraham Lincoln’s life, from left, include his birth and early childhood in Kentucky; his formative years in Indiana; his professional life in Illinois; and his presidency in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/US Mint)

Question: Is the penny necessary? Wouldn’t it be easier for everyone if the U.S. eliminated the penny, which is virtually worthless, from our monetary system?