The Last Penny: US Mint Ends 232 Years of Cent Production on November 12, 2025

A 232-Year Tradition Comes to an End

On November 12, 2025, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach struck the final circulating one-cent coin at the Philadelphia Mint in a ceremonial event marking the end of penny production. The Lincoln cent, America's longest-running coin design, joined a growing list of retired denominations — but unlike the half cent (discontinued 1857) or the three-cent piece (1889), the penny's discontinuation made front-page news worldwide.

The 2025 Lincoln Shield Cent — the last pennies ever produced for circulation. View in the NumisDex catalog.

Why the Penny Was Retired

President Trump announced the end of penny production in February 2025, stating: "For far too long, the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents." The numbers supported the decision:

• Production cost: 3.69 cents per penny — nearly 4x the coin's face value
• Annual savings: An estimated $56 million per year
• Legal authority: No new legislation was needed. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent exercised existing authority under 31 U.S.C. sections 5111(a)(1) and 5112(a)(6), which permit the Mint to produce coins "in amounts necessary to meet the needs of the United States." Bessent determined the need was zero.

The production cost had been rising for years. Materials (copper-plated zinc), facility operations, and distribution overhead all contributed to making the penny the most inefficient coin in American commerce.

The Omega Pennies

To mark the occasion, the U.S. Mint produced 232 special three-coin sets — each containing a Philadelphia, Denver, and 24-karat gold cent, all bearing a small omega (Ω) privy mark symbolizing "the end." The sets were auctioned by Stack's Bowers Galleries on December 11, 2025, raising a combined $16.76 million. The top set sold for $800,000. These omega-marked coins are now among the most sought-after modern numismatic items.

From First to Last: 1793 to 2025

The first U.S. cents were struck in 1793 — Flowing Hair Chain Cents and Wreath Cents, produced at the Philadelphia Mint just one year after the Mint's founding. Over 232 years, the cent passed through more than a dozen major design changes:

The 1793 Chain Cent — the first cent ever produced by the U.S. Mint. View in the NumisDex catalog.

• Flowing Hair Chain/Wreath (1793)
• Liberty Cap (1793-1796)
• Draped Bust (1796-1807)
• Classic Head (1808-1814)
• Coronet/Matron Head (1816-1857)
• Flying Eagle (1856-1858)
• Indian Head (1859-1909)
• Lincoln Wheat (1909-1958)
• Lincoln Memorial (1959-2008)
• Lincoln Bicentennial (2009)
• Lincoln Shield (2010-2025)

The Lincoln cent alone ran for 116 years — the longest-running design in U.S. coinage history.

The ceremonial final strike — marking the end of 232 years of American cent production.

What Happens to the 114 Billion Pennies Still Out There

Approximately 114 billion pennies remain in circulation — roughly 700 per person in the United States. These coins remain legal tender indefinitely, and the Federal Reserve will continue recirculating them for as long as demand exists. Over time, pennies will naturally be absorbed into collections, lost, or removed from circulation, but this process will take years or decades.

The Mint will continue producing numismatic (collector) pennies in proof sets and special editions. Only circulating production has ended.

Explore the complete Lincoln cent series in the NumisDex catalog.