U.S. Mint Halts Penny Production After 232 Years

On November 12, 2025, the United States Mint in Philadelphia produced the final batch of one-cent coins, marking the end of the penny's 232-year production run. The decision to cease production was driven by the rising cost of manufacturing each penny, which had escalated to nearly 4 cents per coin.

President Donald Trump initiated the move in February 2025, directing the Treasury Department to halt penny production due to its cost inefficiency. Treasurer Brandon Beach, present at the final minting, stated, "God bless America, and we're going to save the taxpayers $56 million."

Despite the cessation of production, approximately 250 billion pennies remain in circulation and will continue to be accepted as legal tender. Retailers are adapting to the change; some, like Kwik Trip, have implemented policies rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel. Others are encouraging customers to provide exact change to facilitate smoother transactions.

The penny's discontinuation is expected to save the government around $56 million annually. The last U.S. coin to be discontinued was the half-cent in 1857.