Goodbye Penny
A Farewell to the American Penny
Published on 13. March 2026
978-1-105-50939-1 (ISBN)
Description
Goodbye Penny explores the American one-cent coin as a symbol woven through the nation's history, economy, and identity. James Davis traces the penny's origins from the chaotic world of colonial currency to the creation of the U.S. Mint and the cent's role in shaping everyday commerce. The book follows the penny through wars, depressions, cultural shifts, and redesigns, showing how this tiny coin became both an economic tool and a cultural touchstone. Davis examines debates over its usefulness, the rising cost of minting it, and the emotional weight it carries in childhood memories, charity, and national symbolism. Blending history, economics, and storytelling, Goodbye Penny offers a thoughtful farewell to an American icon whose value extends far beyond its face.
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Content
- Goodbye Penny: A Farewell to the American Penny
- Chapter 1: The Birth of a Coin: From Colonial Scrip to the Cent
- Chapter 2: The Face of a Nation: Lincoln Arrives on the Penny
- Chapter 3: The Penny's Path Through American Crises
- Chapter 4: The Economics of the Penny: More Than Meets the Eye
- Chapter 5: The Penny in Daily Life: Anecdotes and Stories
- Chapter 6: The Abolition Movement and the Penny's Role
- Chapter 7: Designing the Future: The Penny's Evolving Identity
- Chapter 8: The Penny's Global Impact and Cultural Exchange
- Chapter 9: The Case Against the Penny
- Chapter 10: The Defense of the Penny
- Chapter 11: The Future of the Penny: Scenarios and Possibilities
- Chapter 12: Goodbye Penny? A Farewell to an American Icon
- About the Author
- Also by James Davis
