Current and 2007 Costs to Mint Pennies and Nickels

One of the pleasant side affects of the Coin Modernization and Taxpayer Savings Act of 2008, which would change the metallic composition of pennies and nickels to steel, is the revelation of current and past costs in minting coins.

Figures of coin production expenses are interesting in themselves, but charting their trends is another reminder of the volatility of metals within coins, like that of copper, zinc and nickel.

The cost of minting each penny and nickel today are:

• Penny at 1.26 cents
• Nickel at 7.7 cents

As a side note, the U.S. Mint also provided recent costs to mint the dime, which is 4 cents, the quarter at 10 cents and $1 coins at 16 cents each.

The final 2008 figures are sure to change as metals fluctuate further this year. Still, the penny and nickel stand out with a waving shout to their negative seignorage.

Yet, 2007 coin production costs were far worse when copper, zinc and nickel metals peaked in value. Let’s look at those numbers…

When United States Mint Director Ed Moy testified on March 11, 2008, before the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology, he provided the following Fiscal 2007 costs in minting the penny and nickel:

• Penny at 1.67 cents
• Nickel at 9.53 cents

The cost differences between 2007 and today are striking as well. More so when you take a closer look…

Table of penny and nickel production figures with costs to mint each

The following first two columns have actual 2007 figures provided by the U.S. Mint. Now note the final two columns. The totals here are derived by using the current penny and nickel mint costs instead of those from 2007. By calculating costs in this way, "apple-to-apple" comparisons can be made.

*2007 Mint Cost Totals column applies 1.67 cents for the penny and 9.53 cents for the nickel, as provided by U.S. Mint Director Moy in testimony before the House for 2007 production costs

**Current Mint Costs Used column applies 1.26 cents for the penny and 7.7 cents for the nickel, as recently provided by the U.S. Mint for current 2008 production costs

Regardless of whether the "Coin Modernization and Taxpayer Savings Act of 2008" becomes law, the table highlights how fluctuations in copper, zinc and nickel prices have and can make a significant difference in coin production costs.

And, here’s the kicker, even if the act should become law, steel prices could potentially experience similar volatility in years to come.