"I am doing a story on the current condition of coins (penny, nickel, dime, quarter) currency in the United States, and the importance those coins for the American economy.

The story is getting attention in Brazil because coins are being used less and less in the marketplace due to usage of credit and debit cards. Now the Brazilian government is planning to launch a campaign to promote usage of coins."

• Progressive nations -- Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Israel -- have abolished low value coins as their economic value has diminished.
• More nations will also abolish low value coins and round off to next higher denomination coin, this effects economies and efficiencies.
• European nations learned they have too many Euro coin denominations -- five or six is ideal -- not eight different as some have.
• Half dollars are least circulated U.S. coin denomination.
• Ultimately U.S. will have only a dime, half dollar and dollar coin of existing denominations, the cent, nickel and quarter will be abolished.
• New U.S. coin denominations will be Five and Ten dollar coins.
• Coins will continue to be used for cash transactions and for vending machine use.