In the US, the finest coin is rarely officially called - cents.Most say "a penny".It just so happened that 5 cents - a "nickel", 10 - "dime" and 25 - "kuoter", that is quartered (we, of course, understand this word quite different).Americans generally conservative people, change the design of their money reluctantly and only internally.That modern coins of 1 cent looks just like a hundred years ago.
What penny?
If the "dollar" - a distorted "Taller", the "penny" is derived from the Latin word "tsentum" meaning good old hundred.The Roman centurion, which served as centurions, Saint, chentazimo - all these of "hundreds" designation have a similar etymology.In each of the languages they represent one percent (another degree of this word).Not only in America but also in dozens of other countries, which is not always the base unit is called the dollar in the course of these coins.And in Australia, and in a united Europe, and exotic Brunei, and in Canada, and Hong Kong, and Mauritius, and a little-known state of Kiribati, and in many other places is no surprise that the smallest coin - it 1cent.But for the first time entered the unit is still in the North American states.
appearance of coins
Actually cents appeared on US soil for three years before the most widespread currency today, namely in 1783.It formed a hundred of these coins one dollar.Until 1857 there were also poltsentoviki (in Russia then went polkopeyki).
coins with the profile of George Washington in denominations of 1 cent of the sample, and in the course of today, put into circulation in 1909.Then the dollar was very expensive, it provides gold, and "weighed" about one gram.Today a number of "yellow metal" is forty dollars or more, is not binding, and the price is determined by the exchange rate, but then, more than a century ago, to save on metal fabrication "penny" there was no point, and he was made of an alloy with a high content of copper.It has now turned out, he turned expensive.
Appearance coins
There is not a bargaining fines as diverse as 1 cent.The coin is available in different countries, in her appearance reflects the national and natural features, including flora and fauna of different climatic zones.But the main thing is still considered an American penny, whose appearance also changed several times.First, reverse (reverse side of the nominal) decorated with various symbols of freedom, the main value of the New World.In the nineteenth century the attention of employees of the Federal Reserve System, or rather its emission centers, attracted other impersonation of America - bald eagles, bison and even the Indians, the original inhabitants (the attitude towards them is not changed).The previous century was marked by respect for the first president of the United States, and in addition to a 1-cent coin has traditionally been decorated with the assurance of faith.
Dear coin
Over the past decade the dollar in their purchasing power much lost ground.Pragmatic Americans, accustomed to count everything, think about how much it costs 1 cent, and it is not too costly for taxpayers.United States - a country rich, and proud of its traditions, but on this issue they obviously came into conflict with the economy.The public has responded to this situation practical boycott "penny."Some outlets smallest bronze coin simply refuse to accept, rounding prices to the "nickel".In favor of such a decision speak simple calculations.Firstly, the production of "dimes" costs to each of the emission centers almost 1.8 times more expensive than its face value.Second, in the United States remember that time is money - and spend it on a recount almost worthless trifles - a wasteful activity, the average citizen of the United States in a year, it takes 2 hours 24 minutes.In addition, the minting of coins and bronze cooking is a process in which the people of ecological purity doubts.So it is quite possible that soon cents, if it will be taken into account only when the non-cash transactions.
