Written by; James Werrell | The Rock Hill Herald

A penny for my thoughts? Keep the penny, you can have them for free: Even a country with a coin called a “loonie” is smarter about its legal tender than the U.S.

Benjamin Franklin reportedly designed the first American penny in 1787. Known as the Fugio cent, it bears the image of a sun and sundial above the message “Mind Your Business.” A chain with 13 links, each representing one of the original colonies, encircles the motto “We Are One” on the reverse. --------->

Oh, Canada, how I envy your common-sense approach to coinage. Last month, Canada annouced that it would be eliminating its one-cent coins.

Our neighbors to the north will halt distribution of its version of the penny in the fall, while allowing those that still dwell in Canadian seat cushions, sit in sock drawers, lie dormant in jars, bowls and bottles, hide in purses, reside under floor mats of cars, rest regally in coin collections, weigh down pockets or lie forlornly on the ground waiting to be picked up will remain legal currency until they disappear from circulation.

And then? Good riddance, say the Canadians.

They aren’t the only ones. New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Sweden and others have forsaken this useless token. Read more: