Not a penny more, nor a penny less...

In the near future, it is posible that the scrap value of the penny (1 cent) coin could exceed its actual value of 1 cent ! What happens in that case ? So, basically, it costs more than 1 cent per coin to produce it.

Some excerpts...

The soaring prices of zinc and copper have prompted fears in the US over the future of its one cent coin.
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In the US, the issue is the steeply-rising cost of zinc. Cent coins were once almost entirely made from copper - but the increasing copper price meant that in 1982 they switched to being made from 97.6% zinc and only 2.4% copper. The changeover to cheaper metals brought annual savings to the US Treasury of around $25m (£14m). If zinc becomes unaffordable, expect further changes.

So, what is the solution ?

The same as it has been for hundreds of years, says Mr Chard. Reduce the proportion of the expensive metal, switch entirely to a cheaper metal or withdraw the coin.