Story perspectives

U.S. Mint Ends Penny Production After 232 Years

8/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Mint issued the final penny for circulation, ending 232 years of production.
Production cost rose to 3.69 cents per penny, up from 1.42 cents a decade earlier.
Approximately 300 billion pennies stay in circulation despite the halt.
Twenty states have enacted cash-rounding laws since the penny’s discontinuation.
The bipartisan Common Cents Act lets merchants round totals to the nearest nickel.

History

Historical Context

The 1965 Coinage Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, eliminated silver from dimes, quarters, and half dollars, reshaping U.S. coinage. The United States Mint reported that after the act, production costs fell to 2.5 cents per dime, a 40% reduction from pre-act levels. Today, the Mint’s decision to cease penny production mirrors that 1965 shift, as both respond to rising metal costs and public pressure for rounding policies. Consequently, states like California and Massachusetts have adopted cash-rounding statutes, and the Common Cents Act anticipates a nationwide transition toward nickel-based transactions.

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Story summary

The U.S. Mint issued the final penny for circulation, ending 232 years of production.
Production cost rose to 3.69 cents per penny, up from 1.42 cents a decade earlier.
Approximately 300 billion pennies stay in circulation despite the halt.
Twenty states have enacted cash-rounding laws since the penny’s discontinuation.
The bipartisan Common Cents Act lets merchants round totals to the nearest nickel.

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