CNN 2012-02-21

 President Obama`s administration says it`s more concerned with what`s in coins than who`s on them. The penny in your pocket might look like copper¹, but copper actually makes up less than 3 percent of a one-cent coin. And the main metal in nickels ain`t nickel. According to thisnext report from Athena Jones, the material makeup² of U.S. currency could be in for a change.

 

Julian Leidman knows coins. He`s been collecting them since he was 11 years old, and he`s been dealing³ them fornearly half a century.

 

When cents were first made, this was the size of the cents.

 

He says the look in metal content of thecoins made in America have changed multiple times over the years.

 

They started in 1793. There was three different designs in 1793.

 

And now pennies, as well as nickels, couldbe set to change again as part of an effort to cut costs. In the last budget the Obama administration asked Congress for permission to change the metal makeup of pennies and nickels, because they`ve become more expensive to producethan they are worth a lot more expensive.

 

It costs 2.4 cents to make one penny, and 11.2 cents to make a nickel as of last year.

 

The reason? The rising prices of the copper, nickel and zinc⁴ that go into the coins. Since 1982, pennies have been made mostly of zinc and are merely copper plated. Nickels on the other hand,are 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel. And at current market rates, theprice of raw materials alone is almost six cents per nickel. Add in the minting process, and it`s more than double face value.

 

Does it surprise you that it costs so much to make these coins?

 

Well, because of the raw metal, no, it doesn`t surprise me. It`s what surprises me is they haven`t found something before.

 

The U.S. mint is in the early stages of studying the issue, so it`s too soon to know what the final mix could be or just how much cost savings⁵ could be achieved.

 

But Leidman thinks both coins could bed is continued.

 

My thoughts as a coin dealer⁶ is I`d like tohave them. I`d like whatever they make them of, I`d like to have them. My thoughts as a guy on the street is get rid of them. And do the rounding.

 

This is just the latest attempt to cutcosts at the mint. The decision to stop making the presidential one-dollar coins last December is expected to save the mint $50 million a year.AthenaJones, CNN, Washington.

 

We`re going to admit we were a little confused with today`s "Before We Go" video. We know that these two are out for a walk. What we`re not sure of is if she`s walking the dog or if the dog is walking her. Maybe he thinks she just needs a little push to get going.

 

According to the guy who`s shooting this YouTube video, the upright rover refuses to put all four feet on the groundwhen he goes out for a walk. Might be a little odd, probably a little stubborn but at least she`s willing to make a stand. Whoo! All right. Now, before you giveus our walking papers, want to let you know that there`s no show on Monday in honor of President`s Day. We hope you enjoy the long weekend, and we will see you on Tuesday.

1 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

2 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 zinc   

n.锌；vt.在...上镀锌

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.锌被用来保护其他金属不受腐蚀。

5 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

6 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。