流通两个多世纪，一美分硬币为何停产？

Core Points - The U.S. Mint has announced the cessation of the production of the one-cent coin, marking the end of its regular production after 232 years [1] - The decision to stop minting the one-cent coin is primarily due to the high production costs, which have risen significantly over the past decade [1][2] - The U.S. Mint reported a loss of $85.3 million in the fiscal year 2024 due to the production of the one-cent coin [2] Reasons for Cessation - The production cost of a one-cent coin has increased from 1.42 cents to 3.69 cents over the past ten years, leading to substantial financial losses [1] - Other low-value coins are also facing similar issues, with the production costs of the five-cent coin nearing 14 cents, the ten-cent coin around 6 cents, the quarter at approximately 15 cents, and the half-dollar coin at about 34 cents, all exceeding their face values [2] Current Circulation of One-Cent Coins - Approximately 300 billion one-cent coins are currently in circulation, far exceeding commercial demand [3] - The Federal Reserve has already suspended orders for one-cent coins at 100 of its 181 distribution points, with more expected to follow [3] - The American Bankers Association has indicated that once the one-cent coins are depleted at distribution points, they will no longer accept deposits of these coins, hindering their circulation [3] Future of Low-Denomination Coins - Retailers are seeking guidance from the government on how to handle cash transactions without the one-cent coin, with some adjusting prices or encouraging customers to bring their own change [4] - A bill to establish a federal standard for rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents has passed a committee but has not yet been voted on by the full House [4] - There are concerns that the ongoing inflation may lead to the gradual elimination of the five-cent coin in the future, which could complicate cash transactions [5]