The Death of The Penny

On November 12, 2025, penny production by the U.S. mint was officially halted after 232 years of production. This was quite a long time coming, as over the past few decades there has been an increase in anti-penny opinions, which only became more widespread from 2001 onwards when representative Jim Kolbe presented a bill to abolish the penny, but was struck down. Those who wish to discontinue the penny believe that the penny has become obsolete in the modern day. Conversely, others think that the penny has important historical and societal value.

Penny production officially started in 1793, a mere 17 years after the founding of the U.S. At this time, the penny had significant buying power. It could be used to buy small items such as candles, biscuits, even loaves of bread. One would have certainly felt down on their luck if they dropped one in a gutter. Over time, the penny went through many iterations until it became the penny of today in the U.S. economy that for the last 200 plus years has been undergoing inflation. Because of inflation, the penny has become nearly worthless in modern day. The items that 200 years ago required just one penny to purchase now require dozens or hundreds, and just like that, the penny’s buying power has all but disappeared.

“They just serve no real purpose and that way grocery stores can't charge us 7.99 anymore and have to charge us more round numbers” says Bowen Long (11).

Furthermore, in the age of technology, it is not only the penny that has seen a decrease in use. With credit cards and online payment, digital currency is becoming more common and so most coinage and even paper money is seeing a decrease in usage.

Nick Yin (9) says, “No one uses actual cash anymore and with technology its not useful.”

Regardless of whether or not penny production should have been stopped, the fact is that as of a month ago, pennies are no longer being minted. It may feel like the end of an era, but with an estimated 250 - 300 billion pennies still around, it will take quite a long time for them to feel any more unique. The penny served the US for over 200 years, and now it is time to say goodbye.

“Usually I am the nostalgic type who would want to keep stuff like that [the penny], but with cards, Apple Pay, and the cost of items going up, I don't think it's that big of a deal that they stopped making pennies,” said Mr. Mariscal.