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.
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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.
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