Philadelphia Writing Project
Supporting Civically Engaged Argument Writing with Primary Sources
Text Set
Minting New Pennies
A penny for your thoughts? As prices of goods and services increase over time due to inflation, the penny decreases in value. At this point, it costs more to mint a penny than the penny itself is worth. Students consider the question, "Should the U.S. government continue to mint new pennies?" As they look at changes in prices over time and the science and engineering behind making pennies, students will decide what a penny is worth.
FEATURED PRIMARY SOURCES
TEXT SET
Introduce the Issue
Teachers may introduce one or both of the featured historical primary sources above alongside more current news articles to introduce the issue and jumpstart inquiry.
The U.S. has lost money on penny production every year since 2006. Infographic showing how the cost of minting pennies is higher than the value of a penny. (Coin News, 2021).
Pennies are useless. Here's who's fighting to keep them alive. Short investigative news video about a lobbying group that promotes continued penny production. The video references Americans for Common Cents, which is led by Mark Weller, who wrote the “In defense of the penny” article introduced later in the text set. (Vox, 2016)
Is it time to kill the penny? News article that shares perspectives on whether the U.S. should keep minting the penny. (Planet Money, 2020).
What is the composition of a penny? Infographic describing how two metals are used to make a penny. (Flinn Scientific, 2020).
The History of the Penny Short informational news video with journalist Nancy Giles who dives into the history of our smallest-denomination coin, and hears voices for and against dumping the penny. (CBS Sunday Morning, 2015).
Go Deeper
Students may use these texts—or excerpts from these texts—to identify additional perspectives on the issue.
Top 10 things you didn't know about the penny. Interactive web slideshow with facts about the penny, its history, and its production. (TIME, 2019).
9 reasons why America should get rid of the penny. Web article with arguments for stopping penny production—and some reasons why we may keep the penny anyway. (The Balance, 2022).
America must free itself from the tyranny of the penny. Interactive web article arguing for the elimination of the penny. (The New York Times, 2024).
How can metal mining impact the environment? Informational web page about the environment effects of mining metals. (American Geosciences Institute, 2024).
Additional Planning Resources
Primary Sources
A street mural in Lincoln, Illinois, the only town in the United States that was named for Abraham Lincoln before he became U.S. president. Photograph. (Library of Congress, 2019).
Coin Collector. Photograph. (Library of Congress, 1938).
Machines in penny arcade, state fair, Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Photograph. (Library of Congress, 1938).
A penny saved is a penny earned. —Benjamin Franklin. Poster. (Library of Congress, 2012).
Carr's opens Monday. The Daily Alaska Empire, Page 7. Newspaper Advertisement. (Chronicling America, Library of Congress,1933).
Baxter's 1c to 99c Variety Store.Evening times-Republican, Page 10.Newspaper Advertisement. (Chronicling America, Library of Congress,1918).
Classroom Informational Texts
The Faces on Money. (Readworks).
Coins!. (Readworks).
Picture Books
This website features resources created by educators affiliated with the Philadelphia Writing Project (PhilWP), supported by a Teaching with Primary Sources grant from the Library of Congress.
The following Philadelphia Writing Project teacher consultants contributed to this page: L. Lapina, J. Ross, and J. F. Smith.
Some of the resources and approaches referenced on this page were developed by the National Writing Project's (NWP) College, Career, and Community Writers Program.
Teacher Consultants in the NWP Write Now Teacher Studio and members of the Teaching with Primary Sources Teachers Network have provided feedback on and suggestions for this page.
This page was updated 29 September 2024.