Yes, but it's already completely possible to use digital currency voluntarily. As more people do so, total minting costs will go down anyway. Forced unilateral adoption of virtual currency is just too Orwellian for my tastes.

I like this reasoning.

Its unfair to force people who don't have the technology to manage digital currency to adopt it.

Despite having removed the 50 öre coin a few years ago, and the 25, 10, and 5 ones long before that (the 25 öre coin was last valid on june 30, 1985) - meaning we now only have whole krona denominations for cash - prices here in Sweden here are still set with the öre in mind. If you buy an item for 29.65 SEK you'll pay that amount if you use a card, but have to pay 30 SEK with cash - on the other hand, if you buy two of that item, you pay 59 SEK with cash and 59.30 SEK with card.

I'm not sure the pennies do matter that much for taxes and the setting of prices, if a clear majority of transactions are made by electronic means anyway.

Also, 2 SEK coins are still legal tender, though since they haven't been minted since 1971 and since their material value is much higher than their monetary value, they're almost never seen in circulation (because they're either in collections or melted down in order to sell the silver).

311:1

With nearly 80% of voters preferring to remove the lowest denominations, the decision is clear.

==== Overview ====
Civil Rights: Excellent (68)
Economy: Good (46)
Political Freedoms: Excellent (70)

The Free Land of Gogan is a massive, genial nation, ruled by Doctor Marcin with an even hand, and notable for its anti-smoking policies. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 2.037 billion have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it devotes most of its attentions to Education, with areas such as Religion & Spirituality and Defence receiving almost no funds by comparison. The average income tax rate is 61%, and even higher for the wealthy. A large private sector is dominated by the Book Publishing industry.

The nation is currently revamping its entire education system, anti-government political posters adorn every building like wallpaper, citizens living in underground cities have developed a healthy green glow, and the government has declined to declare any particular religion as its 'official' one. Crime is totally unknown. Gogan's national animal is the Goglodyte, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its currency is the Gog.

Gogan is ranked 350th in The North Pacific and 11,632nd in the world for Nicest Citizens, with 25 Smiles Per Hour (net).

==== Issues ====
22 hours ago: Following new legislation in Gogan, the government has declined to declare any particular religion as its 'official' one.
The overview has been updated following the last decisions made.

"Give Us Money!" Quoth the Poet (issue 312)
The National Poetry Society of Gogan is demanding government-funded programs to promote the arts, especially poetry.

1. "We need government help to promote culture." says Charles Patel, chairperson of the National Poetry Society of Gogan. "Poetry is the soul of our nation, the very pulse of humanity! We will ultimately be judged according to our contribution to artistic enlightenment. In other words, please provide funding for our humble mission to bring the beauty of poetry to the masses!"

2. "Artists and poets should support themselves, like everyone else," replies Virginia Christmas, spokesperson for the Capitalism Now Party. "The suffering taxpayers should be given a break. In fact, we should abolish all government subsidies for special interest groups."

3. "Poets--who needs them?!" scoffs Alexander Steele, Chairperson Emeritus of the Troglodyte Coalition. "These long-haired troublemakers should all be lined up against the wall and shot! That would be far more entertaining than reading some dumb poems!"

==== Public announcement ====

312:2 -- How else would we get starving artists? Art from adversity, and all that jazz.

312: 2

312:2

312:2 - art is a commodity or service like any other as well. If you can't make a living from your art as an artist, you should get a paying job. One can still create art as a hobby. But supporting someone just because he calls himself 'Artist' is an open invitation to abuse of this support.

312:2

312:1

312:2 The phrase "abolish all government subsidies for special interest groups" gives me pause. If this were real policy, I would want a team of lawyers working out the consequences of that. As it stands, it seems to be the best option of the three.

312:1 -- the lesser evil of the three options IMHO (as compared to the above-mentioned abolition of all subsidies for special interest groups with opt. 2, and, of course, the outright execution of poets with opt. 3).

Then they'd be rich vocal powerful interest groups and poor crushed totally silenced interest groups. In practice : only the rich and powerful having the mean to defend their interests.

Just sayin'.