CGPGrey

Where are these pennies going?

I assume they're mostly going to "spare change" jars in people's homes. When was the last time you paid for a purchase using pennies?

For the few cases where cash transactions still occur, it's far less effort to hand the cashier (or machine) a bill, let them calculate the exact change, and scoop the assortment of coins into a pocket, never to be used again.

Personal anecdote: My dad is one of the few people I know who would occasionally pay for purchases using handfuls of pennies, often to the consternation those nearby and the embarrassment of my mom.