When the Penny Fades: What It Means for You

The U.S. one-cent coin, the penny, is being pulled from regular production, and while this may seem like a small change, it says a lot about how we pay and how much every cent really counts. 

Basic Overview:

Penny production is ending because it now costs more than one cent to manufacture each coin.  The move isn’t about making the coin illegal as pennies still remain legal tender, but about stopping the minting of new ones. ¹

Everyday Impact:

For cash transactions, you might begin to see totals rounded to the nearest nickel (five-cent increment) as pennies become scarcer. But for most people, especially those paying by card or digital wallet, the change will be almost invisible. 

From a government viewpoint, stopping penny production saves money and helps by avoiding the waste of making coins that cost more to produce than their face value. 

The penny’s end signals a shift:

A recognition that small-denomination coins may no longer make sense in an increasingly digital and inflationary economy.

A reminder that payment habits, currency design and even the psychology of change are evolving.

For you as a consumer and investor, it’s a subtle nudge: think about how money works, not just how you use it.

1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2025/11/13/what-the-end-of-the-penny-means-for-consumers/