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.

The argument against this is that it’s illegal.

Congress passed a law requiring the minting of pennies. Trump can’t unilaterally order their end.