Argumentative Performance Task Essay: Is The Penny Really Worth It?

Unit 3: Argumentative Performance Task Essay

Is the penny really worth it? For over two hundred years, the penny has been a part of the United States with many different alterations in its shapes and sizes, and has been of historical significance to the United States. With the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, on the top of the coin (as of now), it maintains its significance for quite awhile. Although some will argue that the production of pennies should be continued because, “a penny saved is a penny earned,” it really does no good at all. To make money costs money, and the penny is made for more than it costs itself, and the it’d be a reasonable way to round up prices in businesses.

To start off with, the penny takes more money that it’s actual worth, which is one cent. In the article “Penny Wise, or 2.4 Cents Foolish?”, Jeff Sommer says, “The United State government.. lost $60.2 million on the production and distribution of pennies in the 2011 fiscal year..” (Sommer). Pennies are barely used, storaged into empty water bins, and yet the distribution of them is

still continued. They cost 2.41 cents to produce and distribute, and so much investment is put into the creation of it, so getting rid of it would increase the economy instead of wasting money on money. In the same article, Sommer states,” (Sommer).
Despite this, many will argue that the importance of it will affect how we use money.

From Ted Waterhouse’ article of “Give a Penny—Save the Day!” he gives the example of by coming together and adding pennies will get larger as they add up because their worth is overlooked upon. It holds an importance because it can bring the community all together to bring in the pennies they don’t necessarily want. Again, Jeff Sommer says, “Inflation is sometimes cited as a threat whenever small coins are phased out” (Sommer). Even if the prices increase or decrease (depending on how the prices would vary) would make it more difficult to pay for things, such as a cup of coffee. Instead of fishing into your wallet or purse to find that one (or two) more pennies because it’s the exact amount instead of it being rounded up or down isn’t practical. The discontinuing of the pennies would not affect how businesses would

work.
The penny costs money to make itself, and businesses wouldn’t be affected by the usage of them. Pennies are not worth it for the fact that it’s impractical, and there really is no point in creating it and spending millions of dollars on its production when the money to make it costs more than it’s numerical value. Overall, the production of pennies aren’t at all worth it.