Making 'cents' of the cost to make a penny

Issuing pennies doesn't seem to make much economic sense.Last year, each penny cost 1.5 cents to make -- about 50 percent more than its face value -- and all the pennies the U.S. Mint issued last year cost it $46 million. It's the 11th year the cost to make a penny has been higher than its face value.Nickels, too, cost more than their value to make -- 6.32 cents for each five-cent piece last year. At least the Mint makes a profit on dimes and quarters.The high prices are mostly caused by metal,