The Penny’s Final Chapter: What the End of U.S. Penny Production Means for You

Most people are surprised to learn that it costs more than two cents to produce a one-cent coin. With production costs rising year after year, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Mint have officially stopped manufacturing new pennies. As of Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the U.S. Mint has ended all penny production.
Although this small coin has been part of American pockets and registers for more than a century, the decision reflects a long-recognized challenge: the penny simply no longer makes “cents.”
As we move through this transition, Liberty National Bank wants to help you understand how this change may affect everyday transactions — and what you can expect from us throughout the process.

What Consumers Should Know

  • You can still spend or deposit pennies as long as they remain in circulation.

  • You may see some stores round totals when paying in cash.

  • Bringing in any saved change is a great way to keep those funds working for you.

  • Card, mobile, and online payments will not be rounded and will remain accurate to the cent.

Why Penny Production Is Ending

For years, the U.S. Mint has spent far more to manufacture and distribute each penny than the penny is actually worth. As digital payments grow and cash usage declines, pennies are being used less frequently in daily commerce. Ending production reduces long-term costs and helps streamline the nation’s coin supply.
While existing pennies will remain legal tender and can continue to be deposited, saved, or spent, the overall supply will gradually shrink as the Federal Reserve distributes its remaining inventory.

What This Means for Cash Transactions

Even though pennies will still be accepted, their availability will begin to vary across regions and financial institutions. As the supply becomes limited, many businesses may need to adjust how they handle change for cash transactions and consider rounding to the nearest nickel.

What won’t change:

  • You can still write checks or make electronic payments down to the exact cent.

  • Pennies you currently have can continue to be used, saved, or deposited.

What may change over time:

  • Some businesses may begin rounding cash totals up or down to the nearest nickel.

  • Coin orders may include fewer or no pennies as the nationwide supply declines — including orders placed by Liberty National Bank. We are already experiencing diminished availability when placing our penny orders.

  • Penny change requests may not always be able to be filled by financial institutions, including LNB, depending on remaining supply. 

How Businesses Can Prepare

Businesses that rely on coin for daily operations may want to prepare early:
1. Review cash-handling procedures.
Assess whether rounding cash totals could affect pricing, customer communication, or point-of-sale systems.
2. Monitor your current penny inventory.
Understanding how long your supply might last can help you plan ahead.
3. Communicate clearly with customers.
Signage, website updates, or brief explanations at checkout can help customers understand any changes to cash totals.
4. Encourage digital payments.
Electronic and card-based transactions continue to be processed precisely to the cent, eliminating the need for pennies altogether.

LNB Will Continue to Support You

We understand that even small changes can have meaningful impacts on your daily routines and business operations. If you have questions about the end of penny production or how it may affect your transactions, Liberty National Bank is here to help. Our team is committed to keeping your banking experience simple and stress-free.


Additional information provided by the United States Mint:
- "United States Mint Hosts Historic Ceremonial Strike for Final Production of the Circulating One-Cent Coin"
- "Penny FAQs"