Direct answer: Yes. As of November 2025, the United States Mint has ended production of new pennies for circulation, effectively phasing out the 1-cent coin. Pennies remain legal tender and can still be used or deposited, but no new pennies are being minted, and the supply in circulation will gradually decline as older coins remain in use and banks manage flow. The decision to stop minting was driven by high production costs relative to the coin’s value, with estimates of several cents per penny and substantial annual savings projected. Context and what this means

• What changed: The U.S. Mint stopped producing circulating pennies. The last pennies were minted in 2025, and no new 1-cent coins are issued for everyday transactions. Existing pennies continue to circulate and be accepted for payment.

• Legal tender status: Pennies remain legal tender, so they can still be used to settle debts and purchases. The finality of the mint’s production does not remove the coins from circulation immediately; it reduces future mint output while the coins currently in use stay valid.

• Economic rationale: The cost to produce a penny has historically exceeded its face value, leading to policy discussions and actions to halt production. Estimates cited in coverage point to costs around 3 to 4 cents per penny, with significant annual savings anticipated from ceasing production.

• Practical implications for daily life:
  • Cash rounding: Retailers and consumers may increasingly encounter rounding in cash transactions to the nearest 5 cents as pennies become rarer in daily use. Digital payments remain unchanged.

* Banking and stores: Banks will continue to accept and process existing pennies, and stores will continue to honor them until they fall further out of circulation.

* Coin supply: With no new pennies, the supply will gradually diminish, potentially affecting make-change practices temporarily while the system adjusts.

Key sources you can review for the latest updates

• Reports and updates from major outlets confirming the end of penny production and its implications.

• Industry analyses outlining the economic rationale and expected effects on transactions and rounding.

If you’d like, I can summarize the latest guidance from specific outlets or pull the most recent statements from the U.S. Mint or Treasury and synthesize how this affects cash handling in your area.