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The United States Penny Is Dead After 232 Years: Everything to Know About Historic Decision
232 years after the United Stated penny was created in 1793, the final penny was minted in November 2025. In light of the historic moment, Life & Style shares everything to know about the penny being put out of commission.
The United States Penny Died in November 2025
The final penny was minted on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by United States Treasurer Brandon Beach. The United States Mint held a ceremonial strike to commemorate the end of the coin.
“Today the Mint celebrates 232 years of penny manufacturing,” acting Mint Director Kristie McNally said in a statement at the time. “While general production concludes today, the penny’s legacy lives on.”
Why Did the United States Stop the Production of the Penny Coin?
Beach also issued a statement about the penny no longer being produced, sharing that the last time the U.S. discontinued a coin was the half cent in 1857.
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“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,” Beach said about potential financial benefits to the country, per ABC News.
The U.S. Treasury Department also shared that the cost of producing a single penny has more than doubled in the past decade, with it costing $3.69 to produce the coin.
The U.S. Mint’s annual report to Congress previously revealed that they lost $85.3 million on making pennies in fiscal year 2024.
United States Pennies Will Remain in Circulation
While no more pennies will be made, the one-cent coin will remain in circulation. In fact, there are several billions of pennies that are still able to be used.
“Although today we say goodbye to our copper one-cent coin, let me be crystal clear, the penny remains legal tender,” Beach said. “We have over 300 billion pennies that remain in circulation and we encourage you to use them.”
Additionally, Beach shared that the final pennies minted won’t go into circulation and will instead be auctioned off.
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President Donald Trump Announced Intentions to Stop Producing Pennies in February 2025
President Donald Trump announced in February 2025 that the U.S. no longer planned to produce pennies.
“For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents,” he wrote via Truth Social at the time. “This is so wasteful! I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies. Let’s rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it’s a penny at a time.”
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