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<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>> Vending Times<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>> Issue Date: Vol. 53, No. 1,
January 2013, Posted On: 1/3/2013<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> Mint Tests Cheaper Coinage,
Seeks Minimal Effect On Vending<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Emily Jed<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><u><font size=2 color=blue
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'><a
href="mailto:mailto:%20%20Emily@vendingtimes.net">mailto: Emily@vendingtimes.net</a></span></font></u><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Emily@vendingtimes.net<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;text-autospace:none'><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on"><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>WASHINGTON</span></font></st1:State></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> – <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>It costs 2¢ to make
and distribute a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:City></st1:place>
penny, and <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>more than 11¢ for a nickel,
according to a new two-year study released <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>by the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> Mint. But the agency is on a
mission to find a way to <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>bring the metal and production costs
of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
coins closer to their <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>actual face value, and with the
least possible impact to the vending industry.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The Mint has been
working with a research and development consultant <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>to test scores of metals and dozens
of different alloys to identify <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>potential cost-cutting changes to
the composition and methods of <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>manufacturing circulating coinage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>In a progress
report, the Mint explained that additional R&D is <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>necessary before it can recommend
any changes to the current coin <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>composition. Going forward, the
agency said it will continue to <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>develop and test potential
alternative materials; conduct <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>production-scale runs to validate
supply chains, "manufacturability" <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>and costs; and further verify the
estimated costs to stakeholders that depend on coins.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The Mint said in
its report that vending operators are an important group among those<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>stakeholders. The
vending industry, which has worked <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>closely with the agency, estimates a
one-time upgrade of its machines <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>to accept coins of the same size and
weight as the current ones, but <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>with a different electromagnetic
signature, would cost between $700 million and $3.5 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Except for pennies,
all current <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
circulating coins have the <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>electromagnetic properties of
copper, the report says.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Another challenge for the Mint is
the rising cost of copper, used in <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>all <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> coins, and nickel, used in all
except pennies. Only four of <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>the 80 metals on the periodic table
-- aluminum, iron, zinc and lead, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>presently cost less than copper and
nickel, according to the report.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;text-autospace:none'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The U.S. Mint is
now beginning the second part of its testing to <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>determne if it can produce coins
that are not only cost efficient, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>but also have the same weight,
durability and look as current coins.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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