Penny Pocalypse! The US Mint Just Pressed Its LAST Penny—Here’s What Happens to Your Change
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, After 232 years as America’s smallest denomination, the circulating one-cent coin—the penny—has reached the end of its run. On November 12, 2025, the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia pressed its final penny, officially halting production due to economic obsolescence.
“Find a penny, pick it up, all the day you’ll have good luck”
The Cost of a Cent: Why Production Has Stopped
The decision, ordered by President Donald Trump earlier this year, was a move to end a financially unsustainable practice. The problem? It cost the government nearly 4 cents to produce a single 1-cent coin. This soaring cost, which saw production expenses rise over 20% last year, led to an annual loss of over $85 million for the Treasury
The government expects to save approximately $56 million annually by discontinuing production.
A Rich History, A Sudden End
The penny’s history is deeply woven into the fabric of American commerce:
- 1793: The first penny was minted, made of pure copper and featuring Lady Liberty. At the time, it could buy a piece of candy.
- 1909: President Theodore Roosevelt directed the Mint to place Abraham Lincoln’s portrait on the coin to commemorate his 100th birthday.
- 1982: Due to rising copper prices, the Mint changed the composition to primarily zinc (with a copper coating).
Even with the rise of digital transactions and inflation eroding its value, the Mint still issued over 3.2 billion pennies last year, accounting for more than half of all U.S. coin production.
“A penny saved is a penny earned”
What Happens Now: Rounding, Shortages, and Legal Change
The halt in production has immediate consequences for consumers and businesses:
- Retail Chaos: Amid recent penny shortages, merchants have already begun adapting by rounding prices and requiring exact change.
- Rounding Legislation: A bipartisan bill, often called the “Common Cents Act,” has been proposed to formalize this process, requiring cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest nickel. However, this is currently illegal in at least 10 states, creating a logistical challenge.
- Legal Tender: Though no new pennies will be minted, the billions of pennies already in circulation will remain legal tender and can still be used for transactions. The coin is not being recalled or demonetized.
For collectors, the final pennies struck in Philadelphia will likely become highly sought-after numismatic items, ensuring the 232-year legacy of the Lincoln Cent lives on, even if it has jingled its way out of America’s everyday pocket change.
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Next up? Nickels. The dime should be the lowest coin denomination. It costs .14 cents to make a nickel. Are we nuts?