The U.S. Just Minted Its Final Penny: What Happens Now?
The U.S. Mint confirmed that the final batch of pennies was struck in Philadelphia on November 12, marking the quiet end of a run that began all the way back in 1793.
As word spreads, stores are already noticing small changes at the register, and many of us are realizing we might miss these little copper-colored coins more than we expected.
What the End of Penny Circulation Means for Shoppers
Some retailers have begun rounding cash purchases up or down to the nearest five cents when customers don’t have exact change. It’s one of the first signs of the end of the penny circulation in the United States.
The decision came after President Donald Trump ordered the Treasury Department to halt production earlier this year as a cost-cutting move.
He argued that penny production costs in 2025 made the coin unsustainable, saying each penny cost more than two cents to create. The Mint puts the cost even higher at 3.69 cents per penny.
What’s interesting is that a nickel costs about 13.8 cents to make. It’s a strange twist, because shifting demand from pennies to nickels may actually increase overall spending, not reduce it.
What Pennies Have Cost Us
Pennies were some of the very first coins minted in the United States more than 230 years ago. Over the past two decades, though, the prices of copper, zinc, and nickel have climbed steadily.
So, when the cost of production exceeded the value of the penny, it reignited conversations about the cost to make a penny vs. the nickel, and whether the smallest coin still has a place in modern life.
In 2024, the U.S. Mint penny production totaled around 3.2 billion pennies. That number is down from 2023, but the cost of producing and distributing each one rose by nearly 20%.
Even though billions are still in circulation, many have disappeared into jars, couch cushions, sidewalks, or storage bins, never to be seen again.
Are Pennies Gone for Good?
The Treasury ordered its final pennies for 2025 back in May. No new coins will be created, even though, “Are pennies still legal tender?” remains a common question.
If you happen to have one of those jarfuls, the good news is pennies will continue to be accepted indefinitely. Treasury officials say there are more than 300 billion pennies still out there, far more than the economy truly needs.
Other countries have already gone down the same road. Canada stopped minting its penny in 2012. Australia, Brazil, Finland, Israel, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have also removed low-value coins from circulation.
A Small Change With a Big Ripple
For now, reading news stories like “the U.S. Mint stops making pennies” mostly feels like an interesting headline, but the effects will grow over time.
Prices may be rounded up or down. Jars of loose coins may become keepsakes. And a familiar part of American life will quietly fade into history.
Sometimes, change starts with the smallest things. Even a small coin that barely buys anything anymore can leave an imprint as it slowly disappears from our lives.
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