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History of the penny: from 1793 large cents to 2025

4 min read · Updated Oct 9, 2026

When was the first penny made?

The first US penny, a large cent, was struck in 1793 at the Philadelphia Mint. The 1793 Chain cent was the first official federal coinage made on government equipment, and collectors today call these coins large cents. Each was about 1 1/8 inches (28.6 mm) across. The Philadelphia Mint made every large cent, and production continued through 1857.

When did the penny get smaller?

In 1857 the Mint moved to a smaller coin. The large cent had become unpopular and expensive to make, because copper prices had risen. Merchants and banks often refused cents, since they were not legal tender. The replacement was the Flying Eagle cent. It was struck as a pattern in 1856, issued for circulation in 1857 and 1858, and released to the public on May 25, 1857. It measured 19 mm and weighed 4.67 g, and it was made of copper-nickel, 88% copper and 12% nickel 1857.

What were Indian Head pennies?

From 1859 to 1909 the cent showed an Indian Head design by James B. Longacre, Chief Engraver at the Philadelphia Mint. The Flying Eagle design had not struck well, so the Indian Head replaced it in 1859. The first coins were copper-nickel, the same alloy as the Flying Eagle. From 1864 the Mint used bronze, which is 95% copper with some tin and zinc. The bronze coins weigh about 3.11 g, lighter than the 4.67 g copper-nickel ones 1909. See the Indian Head penny guide for more.

When did the Lincoln penny start?

In 1909 the Mint began issuing a cent with Abraham Lincoln on the front. Victor David Brenner designed it, and it was released on August 2, 1909, to mark the centennial of Lincoln's birth. It was the first widely circulating US coin to show a real person instead of an allegory like Liberty. Brenner's initials, V.D.B., were removed within days of release 1909 V.D.B.. The wheat penny series ran from 1909 to 1958.

Why did the penny change to steel and zinc?

• 1943: Copper was needed for World War II. For one year the Mint made the cent from low-carbon steel with a thin zinc coating. These coins weighed about 2.7 g, lighter than copper ones, and rusted easily. The 1943 steel cent is common 1943 Steel.
• 1982: Rising copper prices made copper coins too expensive. The Mint switched to zinc with a thin copper outer layer, and the first of these were struck on January 7, 1982. Coins from that year come in two metals, so weight helps tell them apart. A copper-alloy 1982 cent weighs about 3.11 g 1982 Copper Large Date, and a copper-plated zinc one about 2.50 g.

Why did the Mint stop making the penny?

Rising production cost was a key reason. Treasury says the cost of making one penny rose from 1.3 cents to 3.69 cents. On November 12, 2025, at a ceremonial strike in Philadelphia, Treasurer Brandon Beach struck the final circulating cent. Pennies remain legal tender, and existing coins stay in use. Read more in the end of the 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

• 1857

  Philadelphia · 17.5 million made

  $220worn

  $1,300MS-60
• 1909

  Philadelphia · 14.4 million made

  $6.00worn

  $63.00MS-60
• 1909 V.D.B.

  Philadelphia · 28 million made

  Semi-key

  $5.50worn

  $23.00MS-60
• 1943 Steel

  Philadelphia · 684.6 million made

  7.5¢worn

  $2.00MS-60
• 1982 Copper Large Date

  Philadelphia · Part of the 10,712,525,000 1982 Philadelphia cents; US Mint figures don't split copper from zinc or Small from Large Date.

  4¢worn

Related guides

• The end of the penny: what 2025 means for collectors
• 1943 pennies: the steel penny, the rare copper one and the magnet test

Sources

1. Wikipedia, “Large cent” (accessed 2026-10-09)
2. Wikipedia, “Flying Eagle cent” (accessed 2026-10-09)
3. Wikipedia, “Indian Head cent” (accessed 2026-10-09)
4. Wikipedia, “Lincoln cent” (accessed 2026-10-09)
5. U.S. Department of the Treasury, “Penny Production Cessation FAQs” (accessed 2026-10-09)
6. Coin World, “Final cent for circulation struck at Philadelphia Mint” (accessed 2026-10-09)