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The U.S. Mint stopped making pennies for general circulation because each one cost more to produce than its one-cent face value, and the Treasury Secretary determined that new pennies were no longer needed to meet the country’s needs. The Mint held its final ceremonial strike of a circulating penny on November 12, 2025. Pennies already in circulation remain legal tender, and limited collector issues continue.
Why did the U.S. stop making pennies?
The main reason was cost. The U.S. Mint says its production cost per penny rose from 1.42 cents to 3.69 cents over the last decade. Those are the Mint’s published figures, not an independently calculated estimate. Because each coin cost more to make than it was worth, the Mint projected that suspending circulating production would save approximately $56 million per year; that figure is an estimate, not a guarantee of realized savings. U.S. Mint announcement U.S. Mint penny FAQ
Treasury also cited the penny’s very low purchasing power and the growth of noncash transactions. In its account, the decision was not simply that making pennies was expensive: the Treasury Secretary determined that additional one-cent coins were no longer necessary to meet U.S. needs. U.S. Treasury FAQ
When did penny production end?
The penny was first authorized under the Coinage Act of 1792. On November 12, 2025, the Mint held a ceremonial strike of the final penny intended for circulation in Philadelphia, marking the end of a 232-year run of circulating penny production. The Mint’s announcement describes the date as the conclusion of general production. U.S. Mint announcement
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- This folder set accommodates all Lincoln Cent issues from 1909 to Date, printed to 2022 with subsequent blank ports
- Opens flat for easy viewing, and folds to 6" x 7 1/4" to easily fit on your bookshelf
- Whitman coin folders are federal blue, with silver or copper design and lettering and include a page of useful information
- Information on each coin is imprinted under the port for the coin on the page
- No coins or bullion included with this item
What stopped—and what did not?
| Question | Status |
|---|---|
| Are new pennies being made for general circulation? | No. Circulating production ended in 2025. U.S. Mint announcement |
| Can people still spend pennies they already have? | Yes. The Mint says pennies remain legal tender and may still be used for transactions. U.S. Mint penny FAQ |
| Will the Mint make any pennies? | Limited numismatic, or collector, issues continue, including penny issues connected with annual sets. U.S. Mint penny FAQ |
Ending production for circulation did not abolish the coin, invalidate pennies people own, or make them worthless. The change concerns the supply of new everyday pennies, not the legal-tender status of existing ones.
What does the change mean for cash purchases?
There is no single federally mandated cash-rounding rule established by the sources cited here. Treasury says states and localities are responsible for adapting sales-tax laws and related policies, so rounding practices can depend on where a purchase takes place. Check current guidance from your state or local government rather than assuming that every store or jurisdiction follows the same rule. U.S. Treasury FAQ
Rank #2
- Includes 2 Original 2025 Lincoln Cent Rolls – Receive one Philadelphia Mint and one Denver Mint original roll presented in exclusive END OF AN ERA collectible wrappers honoring the historic legacy of the U.S. penny. A unique keepsake celebrating the final year of the iconic Lincoln Cent.
- 100 COINS TOTAL — 2 FULL ROLLS: Includes one 50-coin roll from the Philadelphia Mint and one 50-coin roll from the Denver Mint, for a total of 100 genuine 2025 Lincoln Cents.
- 100% ORIGINAL & UNOPENED: These original U.S. Mint-issued coin rolls come directly from the U.S. Mint distribution stream and are shipped in their original, unopened, and unsearched condition—exactly as received, with no opening, sorting, or re-rolling.
- EXCLUSIVE END OF AN ERA PRESENTATION: The collectible wrappers create an eye-catching presentation for this historic final-year Lincoln Cent release, making the two-roll set ideal for display, gifting, or adding to any modern U.S. coin collection
- HISTORIC END-OF-AN-ERA COLLECTIBLE: The U.S. one-cent coin was first introduced in 1793 and became the longest-running denomination in American coinage history. This final-year 2025 Lincoln Cent P & D two-roll set marks the end of more than two centuries of U.S. penny production and arrives in exclusive END OF AN ERA collectible coin wrappers.
Access to pennies can also vary locally as inventories run out. The Federal Reserve distributes coins to financial institutions; it does not provide pennies directly to consumers or retail businesses. Customers who need coins should ask their bank or credit union what it can provide. Federal Reserve coin information
How many pennies are out there?
Official estimates differ substantially. The Mint’s November 2025 announcement estimated 300 billion pennies in circulation, while Treasury’s FAQ says roughly 114 billion pennies are in existence. The agencies do not explain the difference in definition, date, or counting method in those statements, so the figures should not be treated as interchangeable or reconciled into one definitive total. U.S. Mint announcement U.S. Treasury FAQ
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- Century of Lincoln Cent History – This 12-coin set traces the complete design evolution of the Lincoln penny from the early Wheat era through the modern Union Shield.
- Key Historical Varieties Included – Features the magnetic 1943 Steel Cent minted during WWII and a 1918 Wheat Penny marking the return of Victor David Brenner's "VDB" initials to Lincoln's shoulder.
- Authentic US Mint Coins – Every coin is a genuine United States Mint issue removed from circulation. A Certificate of Authenticity is included.
- Complete Design Timeline – Includes: 1910-1917 Wheat (VDB removed), 1918 VDB, 1943 Steel, 1958 Last Wheat, 1959 First Memorial, 1982 Last Copper, 1982 Zinc, all four 2009 Bicentennials (Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Washington), and 2010 Shield.
- Gift Ready Presentation – Coins arrive in a protective display portfolio with historical details, ideal for collectors, students, or American history enthusiasts.
Why did the change matter to the Mint?
Pennies accounted for 57% of the Mint’s 5.61 billion circulating coins produced in fiscal year 2024. The Mint says it produced and shipped approximately 3.2 billion pennies that fiscal year. With pennies making up a large share of coin output while costing more than their face value to produce, ending their circulation production offered the Mint a way to reduce manufacturing expense. U.S. Mint penny FAQ
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ✔ COLLECTIBLE - The United States Mint began producing the Lincoln Cent in 1909 to honor the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. It was the first US coin to feature a real person on the obverse. Designed by Victor D. Brenner, it was the first one cent coin to display the mottos IN GOD WE TRUST and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
- 💰 QUALITY & DETAIL - A glossy finish hard cover houses both the 92 page anthology and the pennies in capsules. The Lincoln Penny Anthology was published in the year 2000. Each year historic events from 1909 to 2000 are covered on a page in the tri-fold book. The inner covers of the book hold the pennies in capsules.
- ✔ UNIQUE GIFT - Looking for a gift for a birthday, anniversary or graduation, the set includes the rare 1922 one cent, the 1943 Steel Penny. Coins are Collectible, Educational and Historical.
- 💰 PROTECTION – The coins are housed in acrylic capsules to keep safe from dust, dirt and oils. The book has a sturdy hard cover with a glossy finish that will look great on any coffee table. A Certificate of Authenticity is included that states the pennies are genuine United States minted coins.
- TRUSTED QUALITY ASSURANCE - Rest easy knowing your purchase is protected by our commitment to quality and reliability, ensuring a worry-free experience every time.
Rank #4
- DETAILS: Bicentennial 8-coin set of the 2009 Lincoln Head Cents
- DETAILS: Designs include Lincoln's Birthplace, Formative Years, Professional Life and Presidency
- MINT MARKS: Philadelphia "P" and Denver "D"
- CONDITION: Uncirculated
- ABOUT LITTLETON COIN COMPANY: Serving collectors since 1945, we are an employee-owned business – built by collectors, for collectors. We offer a wide range of coins from Morgan & Peace Dollars, Presidential & American Innovation Dollars, Liberty Walking, Franklin & Kennedy Half Dollars, Standing Liberty, & Washington Quarters, Statehood, National Parks & Women’s Quarter Series and Exclusive Colorized Notes & Coins that you can’t find anywhere else
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