Musings: Give me my 2 cents' worth
U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach holds one of the last pennies pressed at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia in November 2025. Credit: AP/Matt Slocum
Last week, I went to my local grocery store, made a purchase and paid with a $20 bill. I was supposed to receive $8.02 in change. The cashier handed me $8, and I waited for my two cents.
The cashier told me there are no more pennies. The government stopped making them.
I agreed that pennies were no longer being minted but said there are still millions in circulation.
A manager came over, and I did get my two cents. Is this a new scam at the consumer’s expense? Think of all the customers that stores may do this to, withholding one, two, three or four cents change from so many purchases each day.
Are these stores raking in extra cash and we’re paying for it? It may not seem like a lot, but with grocery prices so high, I want the change back that I deserve.
— Sue Rubenstein, Copiague
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