GEOFF BENNETT: The penny could soon be# a thing of the past.

President Trump is## pushing to end production of the 1# cent coin, citing its rising costs.

Each penny costs nearly 4 cents to make, and# scrapping it could save taxpayers about $56## million a year.

And that raises the question,# does it still make sense to keep minting them?

Our Deema Zein has more.

DEEMA ZEIN: It's the latest step in the Trump# administration's push to end the 1 cent piece.

For more on this fight and what it could mean# for you, we're now joined by John Feigenbaum,## who runs Whitman Publishing, a# leading producer of numismatic## reference books and executive director# of Professional Numismatists Guild,## an organization made up of the country's top# rare coin and collectible paper money dealers.

John, welcome to the program.

JOHN FEIGENBAUM, Executive Director, Professional# Numismatists Guild: Thank you for havi.. DEEMA ZEIN: To jump in, I want to# ask, how big of a deal is this?

JOHN FEIGENBAUM: You know, it's a huge deal that# we're finally coming to an end with the United## States cent.

It's an amazing time in collecting# for us and in the whole numismatic community.

And we have been waiting for this shoe to# drop, actually, I have, for a long time.

DEEMA ZEIN: So in 2006, the penny# became more expensive to make than## its value.

Can you talk a little# bit about how that stands today?

JOHN FEIGENBAUM: Yes.

I think,# the last time we checked,## it cost 3.7 cents to make a 1 cent penny.

So,# as you can see, every time you make a coin,## you lose money, which is really a bad# situation for any manufacturing facility,## which is what the United States Mint# really is at the end of the day.

DEEMA ZEIN: And talking about how much money that# is, how big of savings is this really going to be?

JOHN FEIGENBAUM: Well, it's substantial.# And I think it would be really exciting## if we shifted the production from,# let's say, the penny to a $5 coin,## for example, which I think is much# more practical in the current time.

I mean, let's buy a cup of# coffee with a coin rather than,## what can we do with a penny?

I don't# know.

I don't pick them up anymore.

DEEMA ZEIN: The nickel costs 13.8# cents to produce.

That's a 5 cent## nickel.

So do we see that other coins# could be next on the chopping block?

JOHN FEIGENBAUM: You know, I# would suspect that practical## minds would prevail in that regard.# And I think the nickel is probably## in the same department where it should be# reconsidered whether we keep making them.

You know, again, it's the whole, do I pick# this up off the street kind of mentality,## does it pass that test?

DEEMA ZEIN: So what are some, then, the potential## downstream consequences that we may see# as a result of getting rid of the penny?

JOHN FEIGENBAUM: Well, I mean, the# common argument against getting rid## of the penny has traditionally been that# this hurts low-income families and things## like that.

And it's certainly something# that we should be very sensitive about.

But we're -- the practical remedy is to# round up to the nearest -- right now the## nickel.

I just think it's a better use of# the government's time and energies to make## a more valuable coin that you could# buy a cup of coffee or a sandwich.

DEEMA ZEIN: What's going to happen with# those pennies that are circulating now?

JOHN FEIGENBAUM: Well, there is nothing short# of billions of these pennies in circulation## sitting in jars and all over this country and# in the world.

So the pennies are still legal## tender.

So you don't have to rush to the bank# to get rid of them.

You can hold on to them.

They will still always be worth one# penny and perhaps they will be worth## more if collectors get super interested# in the hobby.

But they're always going## to be worth the penny.

So I think that# people will find interest in this.

I mean,## you have invited me here to your show, which# is just -- I can't tell you, is wonderful.

And I hope that this sparks# an interest in our hobby.

DEEMA ZEIN: John Feigenbaum, thank# you so much for joining us today.

JOHN FEIGENBAUM: Well, thank you for having me.