The final U.S. pennies ever produced have officially entered the history books.
On Dec. 11, Stack’s Bowers Galleries auctioned 232 three-coin sets of the last Lincoln cents struck by the U.S. Mint, bringing in a combined $16.76 million and marking the end of more than 230 years of penny production. The sale, conducted on behalf of the Mint, represents the highest-value special coin auction ever held for the federal government.
Dubbed the “Omega” pennies, each set included a 2025 Lincoln cent struck for circulation at the Philadelphia Mint, a 2025-D cent struck at the Denver Mint, and a non-circulating 24-karat gold 2025 Lincoln cent produced in Philadelphia. All three coins carry a small Omega (Ω) privy mark — the final letter of the Greek alphabet — symbolizing the conclusion of the penny’s run, which began in 1793 with the Chain Cent.
The auction averaged more than $72,000 per set, with 17 lots selling for over $100,000. The first set offered sold for $200,000, while the final lot, Set No. 232, reached a record-breaking $800,000, making it the most valuable modern U.S. numismatic item ever sold. That final set also included three sets of canceled dies used to strike the coins, adding to its appeal for collectors.
In total, 696 coins were sold during the live auction, which began at noon ET. Stack’s Bowers waived its buyer’s premium for the event — a rare move that helped fuel aggressive bidding. The final tally more than doubled the previous U.S. Mint auction record of $7.5 million set in 2002 with the sale of a 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle.
The historic sale follows the U.S. Mint’s decision to end circulating penny production in November 2025, with the final ceremonial strike taking place on Nov. 12. The Mint cited rising production costs — which have long exceeded the coin’s one-cent face value — as well as declining cash usage and budgetary pressures as key reasons for the move.
Existing pennies will remain legal tender and continue to circulate, but no new cents will be produced. Economists, including analysts at the Richmond Federal Reserve, say the change is expected to have little to no impact on inflation, with cash transactions likely to be rounded to the nearest nickel — a practice already used in other countries that have eliminated low-denomination coins.
photo- AP
The auction has also sparked a widespread online reaction. skepticism, and humor, with users joking about selling their personal penny collections while others speculated about whether remaining cents could increase in value.
For collectors, the Omega pennies represent a definitive full stop in U.S. coinage history. For everyone else, they mark the quiet end of one of the most familiar — and debated — pieces of American currency.
