1. Pro-penny people

Is it the zinc industry ("Big Zinc") that's behind the campaign to keep the copper-plated U.S. penny in circulation despite its value being less than its production cost?

Forbes contributor Tim Worstall says no and explains who he thinks is keeping the 1-cent coin around in a Jan. 3 post. 

RELATED: Cost to produce U.S. penny still more than its face value

According to a recent Research and Development report from the U.S. Mint, striking one penny costed 1.7 cents in Fiscal Year 2014.

2. Precious metals pricing

Kitco.com listed the following prices per ounce at 11:20 a.m. ET Monday:

• Gold: $1,197.50
• Silver: $16.075

3. What's new on CoinWorld.com?

All of our Top 10 Stories of 2014 have been posted.

See them here!

4. Yesterday's most-viewed post

Boston time capsule opening announced, U.S. Trade dollars heavily counterfeited: Week's Most Read

5. Being social