It’s official: from now on, finding a penny is going to get much more difficult. After 233 years of rattling around in our glove compartments, couch cushions, and wallets nobody uses anymore, the U.S. Mint is finally pulling the plug on the one-cent coin.
That’s right—no more new pennies. And unless you’re planning to build a copper mosaic of Abraham Lincoln’s face, this change will probably sneak up on you during your next cash transaction. Why? Because it simply costs more to make a penny than a penny is worth. A lot more, actually.
3.69 cents to make a coin worth 1 cent
Each humble penny minted costs the government 3.69 cents. That’s like buying a pack of gum for ten bucks. It’s been bleeding taxpayer money for years, and in 2024 alone, it cost the U.S. Mint a casual $85 million just to keep Lincoln’s tiny profile in circulation.
Eventually, someone had to say, “enough.” That someone turned out to be President Trump, who signed off on an executive order in early 2025 to stop this nonsense once and for all. The last batch of pennies is being minted as we speak. After that, it’s gone forever.
Are we rounding everything from now on?
For those of us who still pay cash like it’s 1995, here’s how it works: prices will be rounded to the nearest five cents. If your total comes out to $10.02, you’ll pay $10.00. If it’s $10.03, it goes up to $10.05. This only applies to cash. If you pay by card, Venmo, Apple Pay, or whatever, you’ll still be charged the exact amount.
The Treasury says this will make checkout lines move faster and save everyone time and headaches. Of course, skeptics worry stores might “accidentally” always round up. (Because when has retail ever taken the customer’s side?)
Believe it or not, America’s late to the “ditch-the-penny” party. Canada dropped their one-cent coin in 2013 and nobody rioted. Australia did it way back in 1992. New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands —they’ve all moved on and still manage to function as societies.
There used to be a half-cent coin
You think the penny’s tiny? Try the half cent, which was actually a thing from 1793 to 1857. That coin was worth 0.005 dollars, which today might buy you a single peanut, if you’re lucky.
Back then, money went further. You could buy stuff with literal pocket change. Now? Even vending machines give you the side-eye when you try to use coins.
The U.S. government tried so hard to get people to love dollar coins. The Eisenhower, the Susan B. Anthony, the Sacagawea, and that bizarre Presidential Dollar series —all met the same fate: complete public disinterest.
Let’s face it. Americans love paper money and hate change that’s heavier than a Tic Tac tin.
Collectors are freaking out right now
You know who does care about pennies? Coin nerds. With the end of production, some are already hoarding 2025 pennies like they’re prepping for a copper-fueled apocalypse. Rare or misprinted coins could become instant collector’s items, selling for way more than a cent.
Don’t get too attached to your five-cent pieces, either. Making a nickel also costs more than it’s worth. Economists have already started grumbling that it may be the next coin to go.
For years, people have joked that the penny was useless. You couldn’t buy anything with it. People walked past them on sidewalks like they were cursed. Even vending machines gave them the cold shoulder.
So raise a toast— or at least a nickel— to Lincoln’s smallest tribute. He had a good run. Just don’t try to pay for the drink with a handful of pennies. You’ll get a silent curse from the bartender.
