One clear sign of a recession is that it will be harder to pinch pennies in the coming months. The Mint will stop making the penny when the one-cent blanks run out sometime in early 2026.  The last order for blank pennies to stamp has already been shipped. Apparently, it costs 3.69 cents to make each penny. Fun Fact: it presently costs 13.78 cents to make a nickel, 5.76 cents to make a dime, and 14.68 cents to make a quarter. I suspect the nickel may not be long for this world, unless they find a cheaper metal that cannot be easily counterfeited. The Federal Reserve 2022 Report estimated that $14 billion—about 60% of all coins in circulation—are kept in jars. The Wall Street Journal indicates that businesses will likely round up or down to the nearest nickel, but state and local governments are going to need to enact legislation when it comes to sales taxes such as the price of a gallon of gas at the pump, or a candy bar. And what about the penny loafer? It won’t be the same.

Hobbyists collecting pennies will increase. Grandchildren will inherit these collections with the hope that one day, maybe, they will be worth something. Banks will begin to take pennies out of circulation and the Treasury will seek to reclaim the metals. Cashless transactions will be first to round up (not down) quickly. If you can’t count on a penny anymore, what can you count on? 

A couple of days before his crucifixion, Jesus answered a question and later shared an observation about the place of money in our daily lives. To the anti-tax crowd, Jesus asked for a coin; to the religious crowd, Jesus pointed to a widow who understood gratitude to God. The Almighty Dollar, Gold Bar, or Crypto Currency is a petty little god. Choose wisely.

Keep healthy. Pray mightily. Enjoy your life today. A penny for your thoughts. And let’s experience the love and power of God together.

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