Did they stop making pennies? The end of the penny explained

3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026

In short

The US Mint struck its last pennies for everyday use on November 12, 2025.
Pennies are still legal tender, and billions are still out there.
For almost every penny in your jar, nothing changes. A common penny is still worth about one cent.

What happened

The cost: the Mint reported that producing a one-cent coin cost about 3.69 cents, supporting the decision to stop circulation production.
November 12, 2025: at the Philadelphia Mint, US Treasurer Brandon Beach struck the final penny made for circulation. The Mint called it the end of the penny's 232-year run as a circulating coin.

The Omega pennies

Special final-production pennies carry the Greek letter Ω (Omega), the last letter of the Greek alphabet 2025 Omega privy mark (final strike).

They didn't go into change. The Mint sold them at auction in December 2025, in 232 three-coin sets, one set for each year of penny production. Each set held three coins: a 2025 penny from Philadelphia, a 2025-D penny from Denver, and a 24-karat gold penny. The gold one was the first gold penny the Mint has ever made. The auction, held by Stack's Bowers Galleries, reported total sales of more than 16.76 million dollars.

Watch outThe original Omega issue was sold in documented sets, not distributed as ordinary change. Seek verifiable provenance and professional authentication. A resale set might have been separated; missing packaging alone is not proof of a fake.

Are pennies still money?

Yes, existing pennies remain legal tender. Treasury guidance supports continued use and describes rounding the final cash total to five cents when penny change is unavailable. State and local rules differ; this is not a universal acceptance or rounding rule. Non-cash payments are outside that rounding guidance. Ask your bank about its coin-deposit policy.

2026 pennies

The Mint continues collector pennies. Its 2026 annual sets include the special dual-dated "1776~2026" penny for the nation’s 250th anniversary. These are collector products, not new circulation distribution; someone could nevertheless spend a collector coin later.

What it means for your jar

Most pennies stay worth one cent. A normal 2025 penny 2025 has a catalogue estimate of 1¢ at G4, equal to face value.
Don't hoard them hoping for a windfall. Billions already exist. An historic final production year does not itself guarantee rarity or future price increases.
Do look through them. Key dates, varieties, errors and condition still deserve attention. Most ordinary coins will remain ordinary finds.

Questions

Did they stop making pennies?

Yes, for everyday use. The US Mint struck its last pennies for circulation on November 12, 2025, at the Philadelphia Mint. The Mint still makes collector pennies, such as the 2026 annual sets with the dual-dated "1776~2026" penny.

How much does it cost to make a penny?

The Mint reported that producing a one-cent coin cost about 3.69 cents, which supported the decision to stop making pennies for circulation.

Are pennies still legal tender?

Yes. Existing pennies remain legal tender and billions are still out there. Treasury guidance describes rounding a cash total to five cents when penny change is unavailable; state and local rules differ.

Is a 2025 penny worth more now that pennies are discontinued?

Almost certainly not. A normal 2025 penny has a catalogue estimate of 1¢, equal to face value, and billions exist. The special Omega final-strike pennies were sold at auction in documented sets, not released into change.

Check yours

Start with a photo of a penny from your jar for an initial identification and estimate; rare claims need further checking.

Check your own penny

Penny Value is an Android app for now, so it isn't on the App Store. The values and checks on this page are free to use.Penny Value is an Android app. Open this page on your Android phone to check your own penny with a photo.

Coins in this guide

2025 Omega privy mark (final strike)
Philadelphia · 232 made
Collector issue
Rarely sold
2025
Philadelphia · Included in the 655,200,000 2025 total; not counted separately.
1¢worn

Related guides

Sources

U.S. Mint, “United States Mint Hosts Historic Ceremonial Strike for Final Production of the Circulating One-Cent Coin” (accessed 2026-10-05)
U.S. Mint, “Historic Auction Celebrates 232 Years of the Penny with 2025 Three-Coin Sets Featuring 24-Karat Gold Cent” (accessed 2026-10-05)
U.S. Department of the Treasury, “Penny Production Cessation FAQs” (accessed 2026-10-05)
U.S. Mint, “Annual Sets - Penny” (accessed 2026-10-05)
Stack's Bowers Galleries, “Last “Omega” Pennies Sell for Over $16.76 Million in Stack’s Bowers Galleries Auction” (accessed 2026-10-05)
U.S. Mint, “SemiQ Coin Program Media Kit” (accessed 2026-10-05)