Published: March 17, 2008 04:42 pm            

Ms. Takes: Pennies still seem like golden treasures

I read the other day that if only it were politically expedient, the penny would go the way of the dinosaur.

Our Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson, said in an interview that he thought the penny should be eliminated, but he quickly added that he had no intention of making that a recommendation because it wasn’t “politically expedient.”

I have long suspected that the cost of producing a penny — materials and labor added together — far exceeded the value of the penny itself. Still, what would we do when having to make change for $1.99? I suppose it could be rounded off to the nearest dollar like gasoline which lists the cost plus nine mils. But saying $2, or $3.10 instead of $3.09.9 per gallon, makes it sound so much more expensive, doesn’t it?

The relative value of a penny is interesting. Recently an acquaintance refused to bend over to pick up a penny from the sidewalk. That’s OK. I picked it up and added one cent to my running total of how much money I find in a given year. It’s not much — I think I’m up to about 27 cents so far this year — but I’m hoping things will pick up.

I have grandchildren who check the coin return on public telephones and newspaper boxes and who walk with their eyes on their feet lest they overlook a coin or two. Grandchildren? I’ve got children who do the same thing and so does my brother. It seems to run in my side of the family. I do the same thing, although my speed is slacking off and the kids can usually get bent over before I can oil my hips to get over far enough to reach the sidewalk.

Back in those dinosaur years, I was hauling in 10 cents a week in allowance money, so a penny on the sidewalk was found gold! A penny would buy two jawbreakers which lasted for an afternoon. If I saved up and found a second penny, I could buy a miniature candy bar at Mr. Webster’s drug store. The miniature bar of yesteryear was about the same size as the last five-cent bar I bought. I don’t think they make anything that small, or that cheap, any longer.

Maybe Henry Paulson is right. I know my voice would be raised in protest if I were to be denied the opportunity of finding a penny. I dance in the streets over a nickel or a dime, but pennies do add up!

Liz Ciancone is a retired Tribune-Star reporter. Send e-mail to opinion@tribstar.com.

        

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