Nov 20, 2025 - Culture

Auction for last pennies could draw big money

These final pennies will fetch more than their face value. Rendering courtesy of the United States Mint

This is your chance to own some of the very last circulating pennies, including those struck at the Philadelphia U.S. Mint earlier this month.

Why it matters: These pieces of history will cost you much more than their face value.

Driving the news: Stack's Bowers Galleries will auction off 232 three-coin sets in December.

By the numbers: The pennies could fetch a small fortune, with estimates ranging from $45,000 to $5 million each, per USA Today.

How it works: The live auction begins at noon on Dec. 11.

Bidding will take place on the California-based auction house's website, along with a live broadcast.
Each set includes two circulating pennies — one each from the Mint's facilities in Philly and Denver — and a 24-karat gold uncirculated penny minted in Philly.

Worth noting: The gold penny is the first cent officially struck in gold.

1 cool thing: The coins bear a unique omega symbol (Ω).

Catch up quick: President Trump directed the Treasury to stop producing new pennies earlier this year due to the ballooning costs of making the coins.

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