With the U.S. Mint striking its final batch of pennies in Philadelphia last week , the 232-year production run of the one-cent coin has effectively ended. Much of the shift is driven by rising production costs and declining cash usage. Over the past decade, the Mint's cost to produce each penny has climbed from 1.42 cents to 3.69 cents, according to the U.S. Mint. The penny isn't discontinued and still counts as legal tender, and the final batch is expected to enter circulation in early 2026.