The Shadow
The penny, once a constant companion in pockets and purses, has ended its run at the nation’s mint. The last coins were rolled out on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The first U.S pennies, known as the Fugio Copper Cent, were minted in 1787. Benjamin Franklin is credited with the design, and the first official pennies followed in 1793 under the Coinage Act of 1792. The penny’s current form arrived in 1909 on the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, becoming the first American coin to feature a president. Originally, U.S. pennies were large and made of pure copper. Since 1982, pennies have been mostly zinc with a thin copper plating.
The mint has halted the production of pennies for circulation, but the penny has not been eliminated; only an act of Congress can abolish a currency.
The penny continues to circulate and remains legal to use. Officials cite rising production costs and digital transactions by Americans in paying for goods as the force behind the decision. Cost savings are one clear argument: minting a penny now costs more than its face value.
Opponents, however, warn of a small but persistent friction in everyday life. Retailers and consumers who rely on exact change may face rounding rules and minor price adjustments, which may require policy tweaks to accommodate higher denominations or rounded totals.
While some see it as the loss of a familiar symbol in history, in the interviews I conducted, the majority of people I spoke with are saddened by the end of penny production. The coin to them is part of history, and childhood memories of putting pennies into a piggy bank. However, most added that they hardly use pennies anymore.
The pennies charm isn’t just historical; for centuries, it has been seen as a token of luck, believed to bring good fortune. Across generations, a penny has carried associations with luck and folk belief. A penny found heads up was often a prompt to make a wish, but with fewer pennies available, the chances of you finding one today are slimmer. People would also carry them in their pockets, hoping for favorable outcomes. The penny has remained a small tangible reminder that luck can be found every day.
Looking ahead, experts anticipate that a gradual transition with rounding conventions, digital payments, and public education will ease the shift. The penny’s retirement is another reminder that some things aren’t made anymore. While its memory lingers, the final run of pennies stands as a milestone in numismatic history in American currency, as the penny’s chapter comes to an end.
