As a result, it appears that the long-endangered penny has finally met its meltdown.

The study also revealed that the future of other traditional pieces of the currency is in question.

Government economists reason that, since the dollar is now the equal of a penny, the buying power of the 50-cent piece is only equal to half a penny. And so on down the fractions, right through the quarters and dimes. So the question is being bandied around about the significance of anything that's only worth a sliver of a red cent.

Nor is the paper variety entirely secure. The treasury now estimates that within ten years, the dollar bill will be replaced by the five-dollar bill and, five years later, by the ten dollar bill.

Should the trend continue, it is estimated that penny candy will eventually retail at one-hundred dollars the bite.