This final note today, which comes to us from page 165 of the president’s budget the White House released today.

You know that saying “A penny saved is a penny earned”? How ’bout this: A penny made more cheaply can save the government a whole boatload of money.

The president wants Congress to let the Treasury Department use cheaper — the actual phrase is “more cost-effective” — materials to mint our coins. It costs, the budget says, 2.4 cents to make a penny because copper and assorted raw materials are so expensive now; 11.2 cents to make a nickel.

Total potential savings? $50 million.