All because you wanna save a couple extra pennies.

We all know our money is not worth as much as it used to be, but did you know that your pennies and nickels are actually worth less than their metal content?

In other words, those coins now cost more to make than their face value.

"The Mint estimates it will cost 1.23 cents per penny and 5.73 cents per nickel this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. The cost of producing a penny has risen 27% in the last year, while nickel manufacturing costs have risen 19%."

This is historic, my friends. We could have a mini-crisis on our hands.

"For the first time in U.S. history, the cost of manufacturing both a penny and a nickel is more than the 1-cent and 5-cent values of the coins themselves. Skyrocketing metals prices are behind the increase, the U.S. Mint said in a letter to members of Congress last week."

So, if pennies and nickels cost more than their value, everything else, obviously, is worth more than it's production costs. So, would I be better off having 25 pennies instead of one quarter?

Okay, now this I'm not sure I understand. Why does the mint want to make money? No, wait, that's what the mint does. Scratch that. Why does the mint need to make a profit?

"Last year, the Mint's coin-making profit was $730 million. Mint officials estimate the added penny and nickel expenses will reduce the Mint's profit this year by $45 million."

I said all that to say this ... all that loose change in your pockets or dresser drawer or couch cushions. Save it. It just might be worth something some day. Your pennies won't be worth pennies, but worth more than pennies.