Concord merchants launch common-cents revolution

By Jennifer Fenn Lefferts
Globe Correspondent
February 10, 2009

Following in the footsteps of the town's historic Minutemen, the owner of a Concord bakery is leading her own revolution of sorts - against pennies.

Not only are the copper-coated zinc coins heavy and time consuming to work with, they are also nearly worthless, says Judy Fersch, owner of Concord Teacakes. According to the US Mint, it costs 1.4 cents to make and distribute each penny.

"They cost more to make than they are worth," Fersch said of the coins depicting Abraham Lincoln. "It's just wasteful. If I as a small business owner continued to make something I lost money on, people would think I was out of my mind. the rest image