A shadow of doubt has been cast over the future of copper coins, after the Treasury announced there were no plans to produce any more in the coming years.
On Wednesday, the Treasury revealed the controversial plans to stop minting 1p and 2p coins, as fears emerge the short-change could be phased out for good.
The controversial move comes as a government spokesperson said they are ‘confident’ there is enough small change in circulation without the need to order more.
While some Brits reacted with howls of dismay at the potential end of the Great British penny, arcade owners voiced concerns for their businesses as society moves ever closer to becoming cashless.
Although the announcement has been a cause of heartbreak for certain Britons, others have revealed to MailOnline they will be glad to see their demise, dubbing them ‘filthy’ and a ‘waste of time’.
No new 1p and 2p coins are expected to be ordered in the coming years with proposals being worked on to be put to ministers over the future of the coinage (pictured: coin pusher at Happyland amusements)
Lynn Bell from Newcastle (pictured) won’t be too upset to see the end of copper coins admitting she throws hers in the bin
However for others like taxi driver Jawad Ali (pictured) cash is still ‘king’ and essential for his day-to-day business
Lynn Bell, 55, from Newcastle won’t be missing her coppers any time soon as she dropped the bombshell that she throws hers in the bin.
‘I use cash every day, I don’t use cards I never keep one or two pence coins,’ the carer said.
‘Every time I get them I put them in the street or leave them for someone else in the shopping centre.
‘They are a waste of time. They are filthy. I don’t know anyone who keeps them. I received a copper coin today with my shopping but I binned it.’
Gary Bentham, 41, a regional sales and operational manager said: ‘I don’t use cash anymore. I use my card or Apple Pay on my phone.
‘You can use card everywhere so I very rarely use cash. It’s more convenient than going to a cash point and getting money out.
He added: ‘If you get a tenner out to spend a couple of quid you waste the rest of it.
Pictured a coin pusher machine filled with 1p and 2p at the arcade in Bournemouth
Children’s entertainer Sarah Cave, 27, (pictured) compared her purse stacked to the brim with copper coins to a ‘brick’
‘I use card or electronic payment more than cash,’ confessed musician Ryan Bird, 30 (pictured)
Colin Stephenson, 70, (pictured) a pensioner who used to work in marine navigation, said he didn’t like pennies because they weigh his ‘wallet down’
One gentleman holding his hand out to display the 1p and 2p coins stacked away in his pocket
‘My daughter takes most of the coins we have and puts them in a jar. She’s like a little Magpie that will collect them up and use them for what she wants.
‘I can’t remember the last time I used or received one. It’s been that long, probably pre-pandemic.
‘The pandemic is when more people started going cashless. I don’t have any cash on me. I may have a pound coin but nothing else.’
Colin Stephenson, 70, a pensioner who used to work in marine navigation, said he didn’t like pennies because they weigh his ‘wallet down’
‘I put my coins straight in the donation box,’ he quipped.
I use cash most of the time I take cash out to buy food but I don’t like anything under 20p, simply because of the weight and the coins get in the way.
‘I received a penny yesterday but put it straight in the box.’
Musician, Ryan Bird, 30, said: ‘I use card or electronic payment more than cash. If it’s a small business I will use cash as they get more money from the transaction.
David Francis, who has owned Happyland Amusments (pictured) for three decades, said the change would be ‘much harder’ for people in his generation
‘It is much easier to teach my children about money if I can give them cash and say that’s all they are getting for the day,’ said Lucie Ray-Barrett (pictured at the arcade)
The mother from Solihull (pictured) in the West Midlands was playing on the penny slot machines with her children
‘We come and use the arcade machines a lot as Kimberley loves them. We can spend £5 or £10 and have a fun afternoon,’ said Nick Vine (pictured with his daughter Kimberley)
However the teacher, who was playing on a coin pusher with his daughter, admitted he could understand why there was less demand for copper coins
‘I got a coin back a week ago. I was at a festival and I got some back as change. It’s interesting that they are not minting the coins anymore.’
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However others hailing from Newcastle are adamant they use cash in their every day life, and would miss the small change, with one taxi driver still insisting ‘cash is king’.
Jawad Ali, 31, proudly showed off one penny and a two pence piece, adding: ‘I use cash on a daily basis.’
‘If I have coins on me, I’ll use them. I keep them in the ash tray in my taxi but it’s mainly loose change.’
The taxi driver added: ‘I used coins yesterday. I was putting fuel in the car and went over the amount I intended to pay so I have them the coins.
‘Sometimes people will have loose change and will pay you with it. I get it quite often as a taxi driver.
‘Like they say, cash is king in any form.’
Children’s entertainer Sarah Cave, 27, compared her purse stacked to the brim with copper coins to a ‘brick’.
A change machine in Happyland Amusements in Bournemouth England
Owner of the arcade, Mr Francis also voiced his worries about having to raise prices in his beachside shop if pennies are less widely used
‘People will buy things if they see it costs £19.99 but as soon as I put it up to twenty quid they won’t touch them,’ he said (pictured: items for sale at his store)
‘I have loads of them but I don’t use them and because of it my purse weighs a tonne,’ she said.
‘Mine just sit in my purse. If I get change I put it in the bottom of my bag and never use them.
‘That cash has been in my purse for years. I got a new one and I haven’t changed my bags over because I’ll have to sort the coins out.
‘I paid for a costume today with cash and got a penny back and shoved it back in my bag.’
‘I don’t use cash often. It’s a generational thing, my grandparents will give me £20 to treat myself.’
Down south in Bournemouth, Happyland Amusements – an arcade with dozens of machines which only take 2p coins – a manager worries about their future in a cashless society.
David Francis, who has owned the arcade for three decades, said the change would be ‘much harder’ for people in his generation.
‘We are just used to using cash but I know we are moving towards a cashless society,’ he confessed
Brits face paying more for everyday essentials on the high street if Treasury stops producing 1p and 2p coins, business leaders warn
TikTok is awash with youngsters counting their pennies for their savings
One lady who lives between the UK and Australia was shocked to find no coppers in her purse admitting they were all left at home
He also voiced his worries about having to raise prices in his beach side shop if pennies are less widely used.
He added: ‘I know it is only one penny, but it adds up and makes a big difference to some people.
‘People will buy things if they see it costs £19.99 but as soon as I put it up to twenty quid they won’t touch them.’
Marketing manager Lucie Ray-Barrett, 46, from Solihull, West Midlands, was playing in the arcade with her children.
She said: ‘It is much easier to teach my children about money if I can give them cash and say that’s all they are getting for the day.
‘We do use a card for most things but it is nice to come down to play in the arcade and have an afternoon of fun for only a few pounds.’
Teacher Nick Vine, 61, who was playing on a coin pusher with his daughter, admitted he could understand why there was less demand for copper coins.
He said: ‘We all know that pennies are worthless really especially when you get one penny change.
‘We come and use the arcade machines a lot as Kimberley loves them. We can spend £5 or £10 and have a fun afternoon.
‘As much as I use a card for most things these days, I can see why there is a less of a use for pennies and other coins.’
Cash made up just 12 per cent of all payments last year, according to figures published by industry body UK Finance. By contrast almost four in ten payments were contactless
No new 1p and 2p coins are expected to be ordered in the coming years with proposals being worked on to be put to ministers over the future of the coinage
One man dubbed the decision to scrap the coins a ‘good’ one as pennies were ‘heavy to carry’
Despite the wails of sadness from other Brits in the UK, one grandfather said he was indifferent about the end of coppers (pictured)
MailOnline took to the streets of London to ask shoppers how they felt about coppers become a thing of the past.
Two ladies who move between the UK and Australia admitted to throwing away their pennies when they arrived down under.
Another young duo confessed they don’t even carry cash around with them, with the young man adding: ‘It doesn’t bother me.
‘You don’t really have anything that comes up to 1p or 2p. Say if somethings £1.99 you wouldn’t really keep a 1p around and be like okay I’ll save that.’
One man dubbed the decision to scrap the coins a ‘good’ one as pennies were ‘heavy to carry’.
‘I would actually not carry them – I would keep at home and use the higher denomination coin, like £1 or £2 coins or 20p onwards,’ he said.
‘I have some that I have in my room that I don’t even see and don’t even look at.’
Although many young people were not bothered by the demise of pennies, some were concerned about the ‘stress’ of digital currency.
‘Society changes that is life but that said digital currency is a bit stressful sometimes.’ the woman told MailOnline.
‘Like when we had the [Crowdstrike IT] outage the other day it does raise the thought what would happen if we don’t have cash.’
Another youngster described having a boatload of pennies in your purse as a ‘tradition’ branding the decision to stop minting them ‘a liberty’.
Another youngster (right) described having a boatload of pennies in your purse as a ‘tradition’ branding the decision to stop minting them ‘a liberty’.
Despite admitting change is always inevitable in society, one young woman (pictured) aired her worries about a cashless society after the global Crowdstrike IT outage
Her friend chimed in: ‘I am quite reliant on cash – I can’t lie because I like to know how much money I have.
‘Also when things aren’t a whole pound I like to get rid of them I like them.’
Despite the wails of sadness from other Brits in the UK, one grandfather said he was indifferent about the end of copper coins.
‘I really don’t care we don’t ever seem to tender them for the purchase of anything. Our grandchildren don’t really want them they want silver or a different colour,’ he told MailOnline.
‘I don’t think I will miss them but when they are gone maybe I will change my mind.’
