Wed, 12 Nov 2025

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 US ends penny-making run after more than 230 years

Pennies today cost nearly four cents each to make - more than twice the cost of a decade ago.
The US has announced plans to stop producing pennies, with the Philadelphia Mint striking its last batch on Wednesday. This move will save the government an estimated $56m per year due to the high production cost of each penny. According to the Treasury Department, it costs nearly four cents to make a single penny, which is more than twice the cost from a decade ago. The decision comes as electronic transactions become increasingly common and pennies are seen as less necessary. About 300 billion pennies will remain in circulation, but businesses have started rounding up prices to compensate for the lack of pennies, potentially costing consumers $6m annually. The US is following in the footsteps of other countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand that have phased out their lowest value coins due to similar reasons.
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