U.S. penny production is officially stopped by the Trump administration, with the last coins being minted on November 12, 2025, at the Philadelphia Mint and by U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach. Using a cost of its production of more than face value (3.69 cents per penny in 2024), the Mint will be auctioning the last five pennies with an omega-mark, which could be sold at auction for up to $5 million as a modern scarce collectible.
Cost vs Value Reality Why Production got halted
– It will be 3.69 cents to make a penny in 2024 (zinc core, copper plated), compared to 0.97 cents in 2005, and cost the government losses of 85.3 million on 3.2 billion coins.
– Increasing cost of metals, transportation and inflation rendered pennies unprofitable over 20 years; and stoppage will save Treasury an estimated $56 million each year.
– In February 2025, President Trump announced that he had ordered the stop, following the suggestion of economist and shopping groups who prefer to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel.
Final Pennies: Rare Omega-Marked
– The remaining five pennies are marked with an unusual omega (Ω) character, which means finality, in sets of Philadelphia/Denver strike, gold faking, and original dies.
– The value of the last sets is projected to 2-5 million at auction because of extremely low mintage (only 232 final sets are rumored) and because the collectors of Lincoln cent coins are considered to be in a state of modern rarity.
– Greysheet publisher John Feigenbaum observes that they will become mandatory parts of complete collections, forcing institutions and high-end collectors to buy them.
The Penny Historical Background
– First minted 1793 (Fugio cent era), issued since 1909 that features the portrait of Lincoln but survived WWII copper rationing due to zinc-steel “shell case” pennies.
– In God We Trust was relegated to Lincoln cents; represented small transactions but was replaced by electronic payments (90%+ cashless).
What Becomes of the Pennies that Are in Circulation
– Be not forcibly redeemed in any way; but spend, save, or gather as I like.
– Retailers can round sums of cash to the nearest nickel (this is already practiced in Canada/Australia); coins are reused through banks/Coinstar.
– Vintage/obsolete pennies (1909-S VDB, 1955 doubled die) increase in value; common zinc pennies supplement face value.
Summary Table: End Key Facts Penny Production
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Final Mint Date | November 12, 2025 (Philadelphia) |
| Cost Per Penny (2024) | 3.69 cents (vs 1 cent face value) |
| Annual Savings | $56 million |
| Final Coins Value | $2-5M auction estimate (5 omega-marked) |
| Legal Status | Legal tender forever |
FAQs
Q1: Can you still spend pennies?
No redemption, ever live–legal tender.
Q2: Why $5M for final pennies?
Omega-marked “modern rarity: only about 232 final sets collectors.
Q3: Will cash prices change?
Rounding to the nearest nickel most probably due to cash transactions.
