Big news for coin fans. The very last pennies made in the US just sold at auction for a huge $16.76 million. This marks the end of the penny after 232 years. Let’s break it down easy.
What Were These Coins?
The auction had 232 sets of three coins each:
- A normal 2025 penny from the Philadelphia Mint.
- A special 2025 penny made of 24-karat gold from the Philadelphia Mint.
- A 2025-D penny from the Denver Mint.
Each coin has a small omega (Ω) symbol next to Lincoln’s face. That means “the end” in Greek – perfect for the final pennies!
The number 232 is special because the penny started in 1793. That’s 232 years of history.
The top set – number 232 – sold for $800,000. It even came with the tools (called dies) used to make the coins.
Why Did They Stop Making Pennies?
It cost more to make a penny than it’s worth – over two cents each! In 2024, the Mint lost $85.3 million just on pennies.
President Trump said it was a waste. He ordered the stop in February 2025. Production ended in November.
Old pennies will still be around and legal to use. No new ones, though.
The Auction Details
Stack’s Bowers Galleries ran the sale in Costa Mesa, California, on December 12, 2025. They worked with the US Mint.
On average, each set sold for over $72,000. That’s way more than the gold value!
Experts say this is a record for modern US coins sold by the Mint.
One expert, John Kraljevich, said he’s never seen anything like it in 40 years.
A Bit of Penny History
The penny (or cent) started in 1793. Back then, you could buy candy or cookies with one. Now, people often save them in jars.
For collectors, these last ones are super special – a piece of history.