No Longer Making Cents: The Last US Penny Has Been Minted
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Alignment
On November 12, 2025, the United States (US) Mint made its final penny at the Philadelphia facility, ending more than 230 years of production. This landmark moment closed an era that began with the first cent in 1793 and continued through the Lincoln cent in use today. The decision to halt production was driven primarily by cost. By 2024, each penny cost nearly four cents to make. This resulted in substantial annual losses for the Mint.
"Given the rapid modernization of the American wallet, the Department of the Treasury and President Trump no longer believe the continued production of the penny is fiscally responsible or necessary to meet the demands of the American public," explained US Treasurer, Brandon Beach.
The final pennies were stamped with an "Omega" symbol. As the last letter of the Greek alphabet, it signifies the end of production. Just 232 sets of "Omega" pennies were made — one for each year since production began in 1793. Each set includes a penny from both the Denver and Philadelphia Mints, along with a 24-karat gold penny. The final set also contains the canceled molds that were used to make these pennies. These sets will be auctioned on December 11, 2025. Each set is expected to sell for between $2 million and $5 million.
When first introduced, the penny was about the size of a modern quarter. It could buy everyday items like a loaf of bread. While that is no longer the case, some old pennies have become extremely valuable. For example, a handful of 1943 Lincoln cents, accidentally made of copper instead of steel, now sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Although new pennies will no longer be made, the coin’s legacy is firmly rooted in American life. From lucky pennies found on the street to phrases like "a penny saved is a penny earned," will live on in the nation's culture.
Also, the end of minting does not mean the penny will disappear. With more than 300 billion still in circulation — over a thousand for every American — it will continue to be used for many years to come!
Resources: Popsci.com, ABCnews.com, USmint.gov
Get the Workbook for this article!
Workbook contains: Article, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking Questions, Vocabulary in Context (+ answers), Multiple Choice Quiz (+ answers), Parts of Speech Quiz (+ answers), Vocabulary Game (+ answers)Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
132 Comments
goteam3 daysi love pennys but i once swallowed one ang i had to go to the ER
jellfishdolphin22 daysHonestly, pennies won't ever be valuable because billions of pennies have be in circulation. And, even though they are discontinued, the pennies that still exist aren't gonna go anywhere.
ellievanillaabout 1 monthI mean now that they are discontinued, it makes them more valuable, so they're now technically more valuable then what they cost to make
gorycapizuziabout 2 monthsjust imagine having the last penny ever made- hyjuhozi-1787238776352 monthsi love it
- mivozecajira2 monthsmaybe you could wait and sell pennies for lots of money since cents are now extint
- pomni_jax2 monthsI have over 100 pennies in my room just sitting in a pile I don't know why I just know its there
soupbanana3 monthsrip pennies I will always have you in my heart- soupbanana3 monthsI'm so happy I did coin collecting I have lots of pennies
hotpotato1234 monthsHow are you able to pay things that is not multiple of 5 cents?
