Overview
- U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach struck the final one‑cent coin on November 12 at the Philadelphia Mint, closing the circulating run that began in 1793.
- The last five pennies carry a distinctive omega mark and will be auctioned, with proceeds supporting Mint operations and any excess directed to the U.S. Treasury.
- Numismatic estimates diverge, with some projecting the set could reach as high as $5 million and others suggesting the top coin may sell closer to $1 million.
- Pennies remain legal tender, with roughly 300 billion still in circulation, and the Mint plans limited collector issues despite ending general production.
- As new supply stops, cash totals could be rounded to the nearest nickel, a change one economist estimates might cost cash‑paying consumers about $6 million per year.