The U.S. Mint pressed its last penny on Wednesday, Nov. 12, marking the latest milestone in the U.S. penny’s end.
The last penny was stamped at the Philadelphia U.S. Mint Wednesday, Nov. 12. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach marked the striking of the “final circulating penny,” the end of production for a coin that’s been used since the 1790s.
The U.S. stopped production due to the cost of 1-cent coins exceeding their face value, according to President Donald Trump.
The Treasury Department said the last two pennies were stamped with a special omega mark and will not go into circulation. The government plans to auction the pennies off in the future.
Legislation is still pending that will formalize the decision. Congress began considering a bill to formalize the end of the penny and require transactions to be rounded to the nearest nickel.
The House Financial Services Committee, which oversees banking and other related matters, advanced the “Common Cents Act” by a vote of 35-13 on July 23.
The House Rules Committee, which sets terms for how a bill will be debated on, must take up the bill next, according to reporting from USA TODAY. If approved, the bill could be sent to the House floor to be voted on.
At the same time, some U.S. retailers have said they are seeing shortages of pennies, according to media reports.
According to the American Bankers Association, existing pennies remain legal tender, and banks will continue to accept and process them.
As availability declines however, some banks and merchants may run low or out of pennies, potentially affecting cash transactions that rely on exact change.
Whether it’s pennies, or cents, and you’re unsure what to do with them, here’s a look at their usefulness, and value.
Can I still get and spend pennies?
Pennies can still be spent like any other currency. Generally speaking, the U.S. government’s policy is that all designs of Federal Reserve notes remain legal tender, or legally valid for payments, regardless of when they were issued.
While some older coins may hold additional appeal to collectors due to their rarity or condition, they technically can still be used for their original intended purpose of transactions.
If you have pennies, look them up before spending
People who have pennies that they think are valuable should:
Can I still get pennies at the bank?
You can still get pennies at banks in the U.S., although some locations are reporting shortages.
Can I still turn in pennies at the bank?
Yes, you can still turn pennies in at the bank, although the federal government made its final order of penny blanks earlier this year, reporting from USA Today says.
Dart Bank, based in Mason, Michigan, recently announced a promotion during which it will give people $6 back when they turn in $5 worth of pennies.
“The promotion is especially timely as penny production and circulation continue to slow nationwide. While pennies remain legal tender, the U.S. Mint, a bureau of the Treasury Department, produced its final batch of pennies in August 2025. With fewer coins entering circulation and the Federal Reserve no longer fulfilling penny orders, coin recycling has become more important than ever,” Dart Bank said in a release.
People do not need to be a customer of the bank to take part in the penny exchange.
How many pennies are in circulation?
While the penny “remains legal tender and will retain its value indefinitely,” according to the Treasury Department, the humble one-cent coin will no longer be minted. There are currently an estimated 300 billion pennies in circulation — “far exceeding the amount needed for commerce,” Treasury said in a statement.
USA Today contributed reporting.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: US Mint says it has pressed final penny. What to know
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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