How much is the penny worth?
Even when the U.S. Mint stops making pennies, the coins will still be part of the American economy, at least for now. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo file)
By early 2026, after the current batch of one-cent coins is imprinted with Abraham Lincoln’s face on the front and the “union shield” on the back, the U.S. Mint will no longer make pennies, Treasury Department officials confirmed earlier this year.
In the 233 years in between, the U.S. has issued billions upon billions of pennies, so many that one site for coin collectors determined that — in just the past 104 years — the country has produced more than 532 billion pennies.
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
penny rare coins u.s. mint money Subscriber OnlyWill you help us reach more Memphians with quality, in-depth local news?
You know the value of having unlimited access to The Daily Memphian’s news. When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians.
Pay it forward. Make a fully tax-deductible donation to The Daily Memphian today.
Thank you for reading the local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
Jody Callahan
Jody Callahan graduated with degrees in journalism and economics from what is now known as the University of Memphis. He has covered news in Memphis for more than 25 years.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.