LOGAN — Right now, a penny can be found just about anywhere, but that will change as time goes on. The penny is no longer being minted in the United States. First produced in 1793, the one-cent piece has been discontinued 232 years later. The final batch of pennies features a unique “Ω” mark on the face.
“A penny saved is a penny earned.” This saying is now nearly as obsolete as the coin itself. Mass production of the penny was phased out over the summer, and the very last one-cent coin was produced on November 8, 2025, according to CNN.
President Donald Trump ordered the Treasury Department to halt production, citing high manufacturing costs. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was also a major factor in the decision; the department reported that the 4.5 billion pennies produced in Fiscal Year 2023 cost taxpayers more than $179 million.
For roughly the past 20 years, it has cost significantly more to produce a penny than the coin is actually worth, according to the Congressional Research Service. Made of copper-plated zinc, a single penny currently costs 3.7 cents to manufacture.
While the penny remains legal tender for now, its absence from the mint has forced merchants to adopt new pricing schemes. Many are now rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel. However, because most transactions are conducted electronically, digital prices often remain exact to the cent to match existing currency standards.
Local merchants in Cache Valley have already adjusted their policies:
- Smith’s Food and Drug: Backup Manager Zach Twitchell said the store still accepts pennies but no longer distributes them as change. “We are rounding the purchase off to the nearest nickel above,” he said. “So, if a customer is owed $1.41 in change, we will give them $1.45 back.”
- Hyrum Chevron: A sign on the counter reads, “No pennies.” The cashier on duty clarified that they still accept pennies, but the sign is there in case they run out of coins to provide as change.
While most modern transactions are electronic, several “holdout” industries still rely on coins, including vending machines, arcades, parking meters, car washes, and laundromats. However, many of these businesses are rapidly transitioning to mobile or card payment systems.
The typical American household has $60 to $90 in coins sitting in various containers, according to the Federal Reserve. Each year, Americans throw away millions of dollars in change, literally treating coins like trash.
The question remains: Is the nickel next? The Congressional Research Service reports that nickels are even more expensive to produce than pennies, costing $0.13 per unit in 2024. Currently, the penny and the nickel are the only two U.S. coins that cost more to produce than their face value.