There is no stated source to back this up that is from the US Treasury. It is just a statement made and reported by one then reported again.
The following however was a statement made on 3/28/2012
Written Testimony of Secretary Geithner before the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on the FY2013 Budget of the U.S. Department of the Treasury
Source:
http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/pr ... g1508.aspxThe Budget also proposes legislation to provide Treasury with the ability to change the composition of coins to utilize more cost-effective materials. Currently, the costs of making the penny and the nickel are more than twice the face value of each of those coins. In addition to this proposal, Treasury is implementing measures to improve the efficiency of coin and currency production, including improved manufacturing practices and administrative cost reductions, which will save more than $75 million in FY 2013.
Nothing was said about phasing out the coins....