Overview
- The ceremonial last run was struck on Nov. 12 in Philadelphia, including five omega‑marked pieces that officials say will be auctioned.
- Some estimates put potential bids for the final coins in the multimillion‑dollar range, though other numismatists dispute such valuations and say most ordinary pennies will not appreciate.
- Pennies remain legal tender with billions still in circulation, and the Mint plans limited collector issues alongside the auction of the final pieces.
- Penny shortages are prompting some stores to round cash totals to the nearest nickel, with exact‑change rules in some jurisdictions and federal SNAP requirements constraining how rounding can be applied.
- Each penny costs about 3.69–4 cents to make, and halting production follows years of low demand and is projected to save taxpayers roughly $56 million annually.