That jar of pennies sitting beside your washing machine just became a little more interesting. The U.S. Mint stopped producing circulating pennies in November 2025, ending a 232-year run. Your coins haven’t become worthless overnight, but the change could affect how you pay for purchases, deposit loose change, and decide whether an old penny deserves a closer look.
The reason for the change comes down to an awkward financial reality: making a penny costs more than a penny. According to the U.S. Mint, production costs climbed to 3.69 cents per coin. The Treasury Department expects to save about $56 million annually in material costs by ending production.
