Hundreds attend mock funeral for the penny at the Lincoln Memorial
Title: “Final Farewell: Mock Funeral for the Penny Draws Crowds at Lincoln Memorial”
Meta Description: Hundreds gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to bid a symbolic goodbye to the penny in a protest highlighting its economic inefficiency. Discover why critics are calling for the penny’s retirement.
Hundreds Attend Mock Funeral for the Penny at the Lincoln Memorial
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a striking display of satire and symbolism, hundreds gathered at the Lincoln Memorial this week to mourn the death of an American icon: the penny. Organized by advocacy group Citizens to Retire the U.S. Penny (CRUSP), the mock funeral featured eulogies, a faux casket, and attendees clad in black—all aimed at spotlighting the coin’s diminishing value and rising production costs.
Why Bury the Penny?
The penny, once a cornerstone of everyday transactions, has become a contentious symbol of economic waste. Here’s why protesters demand its extinction:
- Cost to Produce: Each penny costs 2.1 cents to mint—over double its face value.
- Lost Productivity: Studies estimate Americans waste 2.4 hours yearly handling pennies, costing the economy $1 billion annually.
- Environmental Impact: Zinc mining (98% of a penny’s composition) contributes to pollution and resource depletion.
“No one needs pennies anymore,” declared CRUSP founder Jeff Rosenberg during his eulogy. “They clutter our jars, jam our coin slots, and cost taxpayers millions. It’s time to put them to rest.”
The Lincoln Memorial Irony
The choice of venue was no accident. The Lincoln Memorial’s likeness adorns the penny’s reverse side—a nod to the coin’s 1909 redesign honoring Lincoln’s 100th birthday. Protesters leveraged this irony, arguing Lincoln himself would disapprove of a currency that wastes resources.
“Honest Abe believed in efficiency,” said economist Dr. Sarah Lin, a keynote speaker. “He’d have retired this wasteful relic long ago.”
Public Reaction: Nostalgia vs. Pragmatism
While many attendees cheered the penny’s demise, critics argue it holds sentimental and practical value:
- Charity Impact: Organizations like Penny Harvest rely on penny drives for fundraising.
- Price Stability: Opponents fear rounding cash transactions could inflate costs.
Yet, in an increasingly cashless society—where 58% of transactions are digital—the penny’s relevance fades.
What’s Next for U.S. Currency?
The mock funeral amplifies calls for Congressional action. Legislation like the COINS Act (Currency Optimization, Innovation, and National Savings Act) aims to halt penny production and promote rounding to the nearest nickel. Similar measures succeeded in Canada (2013) and Australia (1992).
CRUSP’s event also spotlighted historical precedents: The U.S. already retired the half-cent coin in 1857—worth 14 cents today—without economic collapse.
How You Can Join the Movement
Advocates urge Americans to:
- Opt for digital payments or donate pennies to charities.
- Contact Congress to support penny retirement bills.
- Round responsibly in cash transactions to nearest $.05.
Will the Penny Survive?
The mock funeral at the Lincoln Memorial marks a cultural tipping point. With mounting economic and environmental arguments against it, the penny’s days may indeed be numbered. As Rosenberg quipped, “Let’s give Abe a break—and our wallets too.”
For now, the penny lives on, but its fate rests in the hands of policymakers—and a public ready to embrace change.
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