The United States Mint has officially ceased production of the one-cent coin, marking the end of a 232-year era for the nation's smallest denomination. The final pennies were struck at the Philadelphia facility on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in a move officials say will save taxpayers millions of dollars annually.
The decision, driven by the escalating cost of manufacturing the coin, concludes a long-running debate about the penny's relevance in a modern economy. While existing pennies will remain legal tender, no new coins will enter circulation.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Mint officially ended production of the penny on November 12, 2025.
- The move is expected to save taxpayers an estimated $56 million per year.
- Each one-cent coin cost nearly four cents to manufacture and distribute.
- Existing pennies remain legal currency, but the discontinuation has raised concerns for retailers regarding cash transactions.
An Economic Decision Ends a Storied History
At the historic Philadelphia Mint, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach initiated the final press run, officially halting the production of a coin that has been a part of American life since 1793. The primary driver for this significant policy change is simple economics: the cost to produce the penny has far exceeded its face value for years.
"God bless America, and we’re going to save the taxpayers $56 million," Beach announced at the event. The order to discontinue the coin was set in motion by President Donald Trump, who highlighted the financial inefficiency of the program.
"For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents," Trump stated in a post earlier this year. "This is so wasteful!"
The Cost of Coins
While the penny's production cost of nearly 4 cents was a key factor in its demise, it is not the only U.S. coin that costs more to make than it's worth. The nickel costs almost 14 cents to produce. In contrast, the dime is minted for less than 6 cents, and the quarter for nearly 15 cents.
The last time the U.S. discontinued a coin was in 1857 with the half-cent. The final pennies minted will not enter circulation but are slated to be auctioned off to collectors.
Retailers and Consumers Face Adjustments
The transition away from the penny has not been without complications. In the weeks leading up to the final minting, retailers across the country reported coin shortages and expressed concern over the lack of federal guidance on how to handle cash transactions.
Many businesses have been left to create their own policies, with some choosing to round cash totals down to the nearest nickel to avoid shortchanging customers. Others have offered small incentives, like a free beverage, to customers who pay with large amounts of pennies, hoping to bolster their dwindling supplies.
"We have been advocating abolition of the penny for 30 years. But this is not the way we wanted it to go."
Jeff Lenard, National Association of Convenience Stores
The National Association of Convenience Stores criticized the abrupt nature of the phase-out, noting that a more structured plan would have eased the transition for both businesses and consumers. As banks began rationing their penny supplies, the situation created a paradoxical shortage of a coin long considered to be in oversupply.
More Than Just Cents
For many Americans, the penny holds a value that transcends its one-cent face value. It is a symbol of luck, a common item in collection jars, and a tangible piece of history. Over the last century, pennies have accounted for approximately half of all coins produced by the U.S. Mint's facilities in Philadelphia and Denver.
A Reflection of a Nation
Frank Holt, an emeritus professor at the University of Houston who studies the history of coinage, noted that coins are more than just currency. "They reflect our politics, our religion, our art, our sense of ourselves, our ideals, our aspirations," he explained. Coins serve as a historical record, bearing the images and mottos that a nation chooses to represent its identity.
From its first minting in 1793, when a penny could purchase a biscuit or a candle, to its final days as a coin often left in "take a penny, leave a penny" trays, the one-cent piece has mirrored the nation's economic and cultural journey. While billions remain in circulation, its role in daily commerce has diminished significantly in the 21st century.
The end of its production signals a practical shift in the country's monetary policy, but for collectors and historians, it also marks the closing of a chapter in American history that spanned more than two centuries.
