Over the past few months there has been increasing concern voiced by U.S. Mint officials that the cost to make a cent piece exceeds the face value, despite the fact that the basic ingredient is zinc. The price of metals on the international market has gone up in the past few years, making both the cent and nickel endangered coins.

This is by no means the first time that rising metal prices have threatened the coinage of certain denominations. As early as the 1790s the infant Mint had to contend with the price of copper when setting the weights for the cent and half cent.