Congress approves bill to cease penny production after more than two centuries

The Senate voted by voice to pass the Common Cents Act, which will officially halt the production of the penny after 234 years of minting. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Lisa McClain and Robert Garcia, now moves to the president’s desk for signature. The U.S. Mint halted penny production in 2025 because each coin costs almost four cents to make, and the new law would generate immediate savings of $56 million annually.

Retailers will be authorized to round cash totals up or down to the nearest five cents, easing the shortage of pennies in circulation. The legislation also authorizes the use of a zinc core in future nickels, potentially reducing costs further. The president is expected to sign the measure, cementing the end of the one-cent coin.