1 Director of the Mint, Department of the Treasury, Washington, D.C. 20220
An article in the December 1974 issue of Pediatrics states that "The United States Mint may begin producing an aluminum alloy one-cent coin." Although it is true that over a year ago consideration was given to producing an aluminum coin, that plan has been abandoned.
An inordinate increase in the price of copper was the prime factor in our 1973 decision to move toward an aluminum um one-cent coin. However, the price of copper has decreased from a peak of approximately $1.40 per pound in May 1974 to the present price of 40¢ to 554¢ per pound.