Will 2025 Mark the End of the U.S. Cent?
This year is poised to be a groundbreaker for numismatists and casual coin collectors alike. With President Trump’s recent order to stop making pennies, the United States may finally see the end of the cent [1]. Of course, this is sparking a flurry of discussion and debate over the future of the penny and its impact – both on the economy, and on collectors.
The cost of production
One of the biggest reasons behind the decision to stop making pennies is the cost of production. Currently, it costs the U.S. Mint around 3.7 cents to produce a single penny [2]. So for every cent minted, taxpayers are losing money! Over the years, billions of pennies have been produced – plus, economists have long argued that the cent is obsolete in today’s world, which relies heavily on electronic payments and digital transactions.
A new era for cent collectors
Though we’re facing a potential end to the cent, the collecting of this small yet mighty denomination may experience a renaissance. Cents have always held a special place in the hearts of collectors, with some rare examples fetching high prices [3]. As the production of new cents wraps up, those still available may drive collector interest to new heights.
Behind the economy of it
Discontinuing the cent will have several economic implications. Eventually, prices at the registers will be rounded. It’s likely that transactions that end in one or two cents will be rounded down, while those ending in three or four cents will be rounded up. However, many merchants already price items in convenient increments in order to minimize the need for pennies.
We also can’t ignore other denominations. Take the nickel, for instance – if we’re talking about cost cutting, it currently costs almost 14 cents to produce each 5¢ coin [4]. It begs the question; would collectors see a new version of the nickel? One with a new metallic content designed to lower production costs?
What’s to come…
As the end of the cent seemingly approaches, collector interest is surging in this small but mighty denomination. It boasts great historical significance – from the Fugio cent (whose design is attributed to Benjamin Franklin) all the way through to the iconic Lincoln cent.
Though 2025 may finally mark the end of the cent, one thing won’t change. For collectors, the penny will remain a favorite for generations to come.
What are your thoughts on the potential end of the cent? Do you collect them? Let me know in the comments section below!
References
[2] https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/america-getting-rid-of-the-penny/
[3] https://www.pcgs.com/auctionprices/category/lincoln-cent-wheat-reverse-1909-1958/46
[4] https://www.coinnews.net/2025/02/10/penny-costs-3-69-cents-to-make-in-2024/
If a person doesn’t collect coins then the slow disappearance of the penny will be like having molasses on the dinner table or carrying around a transistor radio. Now the person that just heard about this will probably buy what they think will be a good investment. And as for us coin collector s we already have a collection of these one centers and will keep adding to it.
Thanks for stopping by, Ricky. I like your analogy. It certainly will be interesting to see how the future unfolds for the Lincoln Cent as a collectible coin. Stay tuned!