The humble penny has been put on notice!
Donald Trump has directed the U.S. Treasury to stop minting our smallest denomination of money—the penny. It costs more to produce than it’s worth, and in a world increasingly moving away from cash, it has lost much of its practical use. The last coin to be discontinued was the half-cent (1793–1857), and now, over 150 years later, it's time for the penny to follow suit.
Still, I can’t help but feel a little wistful.
As a child, I remember searching for Lincoln in the memorial, picking up pennies for good luck—“Find a penny, pick it up, and all day you’ll have good luck!”—and rolling up 100 pennies just to exchange them for a dollar at the bank.
Later, as a bank teller, I loved hunting for rare coins. Silver coins (pre-1965) were always a top find, but I always hoped to stumble upon my early retirement—the elusive 1943-S Bronze/Copper Lincoln Wheat Cent, worth nearly half a million dollars. (Spoiler: I never found it.)
In my opinion, cash is still king. But the penny’s demise is a reminder of the forces shaping our economy—inflation, efficiency, and the rise of digital transactions. Sooner or later, the nickel may follow, and perhaps one day, physical money itself will be a relic of the past.
So, if you see a penny on the ground today, pick it up. It’s not just a bit of luck—it’s a piece of history that future generations might never know.
Penny for your thoughts?
