A Farewell to America's One-Cent Coin
The End of the Penny
With heavy hearts, we share that the United States one-cent coin—“the penny” to friends—was laid to rest after its final strike on November 12, 2025.
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A Brief History of the Penny
Born in 1793 featuring Lady Liberty, and bearing Abraham Lincoln’s likeness since 1909, it jingled through pockets, piggy banks, sofa cushions, and laundromats for more than two centuries. It was often the first coin a child counted, the last one a cashier slid across the counter, and the humble spark behind countless “keep the change” kindnesses.
The Penny's Many Lives
The penny lived many lives: wheat stalks on its back, then the Lincoln Memorial, and, in later years, a sturdy shield. It weathered metal shortages and composition changes from bronze to zinc, carried swelling national mottos, and made cameo appearances in pressed-souvenir machines, wishing wells, and “take a penny, leave a penny” trays. In its quieter moments, it taught arithmetic, thrift, and the small magic of finding good luck face-up on the sidewalk.
Controversy and Collectability
Controversy shadowed its later years. For decades, it has cost more than a cent to make, and economists questioned its purpose in a tap-to-pay world. Yet collectors and romantics defended it fiercely, citing rarities and errors, childhood rolls searched at the kitchen table, and the way a single cent could still mean something when pooled with millions of others.
The Penny's Final Chapter
The penny is survived by its beloved fellow coins—the nickel, dime, quarter, dollar, and countless commemoratives—in both clinking and digital forms.
In lieu of flowers, please empty your jars and give them one last shake. Whether you spend, save, or donate, consider setting aside a few to fill your coin album—one last tribute to a lifelong companion. And if you happen upon a lone heads-up cent in the days ahead, consider it a farewell wink from an old friend who always believed that small things still count.
Liberty Cap Large Cent
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Classic Head Large Cent
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Coronet Head Large Cent
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Braided Hair Large Cent
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