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This isn’t just common sense—it’s smart leadership. Trump saw through the government’s absurd insistence on making coins that cost more than they’re worth.
A 3-Cent Coin to Make a 1-Cent Coin?
Forbes pointed out that Trump’s estimate was actually on the low side. The U.S. Mint confirmed that it costs a staggering 3.69 cents to produce just one penny—nearly quadruple its face value. That means taxpayers lost $85.3 million last year alone on penny production.
Let that sink in.
The government is spending nearly four times the coin’s worth to make more of them. The Mint admitted this has been a problem for nearly two decades. “Remained above face value for the 19th consecutive fiscal year,” their report stated bluntly.
This isn’t just a budget nuisance—it’s a monument to Washington’s addiction to inefficiency.
Billions of Useless Coins Still Floating Around
Despite halting new production, Americans won’t run out of pennies anytime soon. The Treasury estimates that over 114 billion pennies are still floating around in wallets, drawers, piggy banks, and couch cushions across the country.
That mountain of coins isn’t helping anyone. In fact, it’s only slowing down transactions, gumming up vending machines, and weighing down pockets nationwide.
Bipartisan Support to Axe the Penny
Even Capitol Hill seems to agree—for once.
According to Reuters, both Republican and Democrat lawmakers have introduced legislation to finally kill the penny. It’s one of the few things Washington can agree on. The little coin simply doesn’t make sense anymore.
It’s rare to see both parties align on an issue, but when something costs Americans millions every year and delivers absolutely nothing in return, even D.C. can’t ignore it.
Penny Joins the Graveyard of Forgotten Coins
The penny now joins a growing list of outdated currency pieces sent to the chopping block. According to ABC News, it becomes the 12th denomination to vanish from American currency, joining relics like the half-cent coin, the 2-cent coin, and even something called the “trime”—a short-lived 3-cent piece used in the 1800s.
“We retired them for multiple different reasons, but normally because they were not being used or they just became too expensive to produce,” said Caroline Turco, assistant curator at the Money Museum in Colorado Springs.
Sound familiar?
Americans Say: Good Riddance
A 2022 survey cited by the New York Post found that 58% of Americans were ready to ditch the penny altogether. The public knows what Washington often forgets—money should make sense, not lose it.
This isn’t just a minor policy tweak—it’s a symbolic shift. America is turning the page on wasteful traditions and embracing smart, common-sense reform.
President Trump’s directive to stop minting pennies may seem small, but it speaks volumes: no more wasting money on money.
