 pennies nickels dimes to go  the us mint currently spends about 48 cents per penny and 162 cents per nickel to produce the two coins and the mint posted a loss of 1877 million last year ndash more than triple the losses recorded associated with coin minting in 2010 treasury secretary tim giethner has stated that the us mint intends to remove the penny and nickel coins from circulation beginning early in january 2013 for a detailed article on the removal of the coins from circulation click on the following story link  http goldsilvercom news bidfarewelltopenniesandnickels  