Yes, the United States loses $85 million minting the penny. But what if we thought of it as a marketing asset, part of Brand America?

New England numismatists have conflicting feelings about the potential end to a coin that has survived more than 200 years of design changes, metal compositions, and increasingly well-documented worthlessness.

The president isn't the first person to call for an end to the penny, and this issue is deeper than wasteful spending.