PHILADELPHIA — The life of the American penny, a humble copper token that has jingled in pockets for 232 years, has officially come to a close. On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the presses at the United States Mint in Philadelphia fell silent on the one-cent coin. In a historic ceremony, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach struck the final circulating pennies, marking the end of an era that began in this very city in 1793.
For Philadelphia, it is a moment of profound symmetry. The city that gave birth to the nation's currency has now served as the site of its first major retirement in over a century.
The Final Strike
The atmosphere on the mint floor was described as emotional as workers gathered to witness the final strike. The last batch of coins was not just standard currency; the final few were stamped with a special Greek "Omega" symbol, signifying "the end." These historic final coins will not be released into circulation but are destined for auction, expected to fetch sums that could rival the rarest antiques.
"It’s an emotional day," said Clayton Crotty, a 15-year veteran of the Mint. "But it’s not unexpected."
The decision to halt production was driven by simple, brutal economics. In 2025, it cost the government approximately 3.69 cents to produce a single penny. With inflation rendering the coin practically widely unused in daily commerce, and the digital economy taking over, the "wasteful" production was finally cut, saving taxpayers an estimated $56 million annually.
The First Cent: March 1793
To understand the significance of this week’s event, one must look back to the beginning.
In March 1793, in a three-story brick building on 7th and Arch Streets—the first federal building erected under the Constitution—the Philadelphia Mint produced the nation’s first circulating coins. They were Chain Cents, large copper coins featuring a woman with flowing hair on the front and a chain of 15 links on the back, symbolizing the unity of the states.
That first run consisted of 11,178 coins. They were struck not by automated behemoths, but by men and horses driving screw presses in a labor-intensive process. In 1793, a penny had real buying power; it could purchase a biscuit, a candle, or a generous measure of sugar.
A Philadelphia Legacy
For over two centuries, the Philadelphia Mint has been the heartbeat of American coinage. While other mints in Denver and San Francisco joined the effort, Philadelphia remained the "mother mint." It was here that the "Indian Head" penny had its long run, and here that the Lincoln cent—the first U.S. coin to feature a real person—was introduced in 1909 to celebrate the president's 100th birthday.
Now, the cycle is complete. The penny joins the half-cent (discontinued in 1857) in the history books.
What Happens Now?
While no new pennies will be struck for circulation, the billions of pennies currently in jars, cup holders, and couch cushions remain legal tender. You can still spend them, though retailers are expected to gradually shift toward rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel, a practice already common in countries like Canada and Australia.
The Mint will continue to produce a limited number of pennies for collectors, but for the general public, the supply is now finite.
From the hand-cranked presses of 1793 to the high-speed automated lines of 2025, the penny’s journey was long, controversial, and undeniably American. And fittingly, it ended exactly where it started: in the City of Brotherly Love.
