Last U.S. Circulating Pennies Shine in Landmark Auction

Collectors and numismatists marked a historic moment on Dec. 11, 2025, when the auction of the final circulating U.S. pennies ever struck by the U.S. Mint concluded with strong interest across the board. The sale, handled by Stack’s Bowers Galleries on behalf of the Mint, offered 232 three-coin Omega sets representing the end of a 232-year run of penny production. Realized prices ranged from $48,000 — paid for a dozen different sets — to $800,000 for the final lot in the sale. Based on preliminary hammer results for all lots, the Omega sets realized a combined $16,764,500.

Each Omega set contained a 2025 penny struck at the Philadelphia Mint, a 2025-D penny from the Denver Mint, and a 99.99% 24-karat gold uncirculated cent, the first gold cent produced by the Mint. All coins feature a small Omega privy mark, representing the final chapter of the penny’s long journey, which began in the 1790s. The 232 sets correspond to each year of penny production and stand among the lowest-mintage offerings in the history of the Lincoln cent series.

All coins in the auction were certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), with buyers having the option to have their coins reviewed by the Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC) to verify quality and eye appeal.

Best and Lowest Prices in the Omega Penny Auction

None of the circulating cents achieved the top MS-70 grade. They ranged from MS-63 to a few MS-67s, with the Denver-struck pieces showing the highest marks. The 24-karat gold cents include six MS-68s, with the remainder at MS-69.

Most sets clustered between roughly $50,000 and $75,000, although several pushed well into six-figure territory.

Set #232, which realized $800,000, has the distinction of containing not only the last circulating cents struck, but also the canceled original three pairs of dies used to produce the entire run. The lot’s grades include an MS-69 gold cent, an MS-64 Philadelphia cent, and an MS-66 Denver cent.

Ranking second at $200,000 was the first lot offered, Set #1, which features an MS-69 gold cent and MS-65 Philadelphia and Denver cents.

The best set in terms of overall grades is Set #212. It realized $180,000, the third-highest result of the auction. Grades include an MS-69 gold cent, an MS-65 Philadelphia cent, and an MS-67 Denver cent.

Conversely, Set #64 is among the twelve lots that brought the auction’s low price of $48,000. It is the weakest of all the sets in terms of grades, with an MS-68 gold cent, an MS-63 Philadelphia cent, and an MS-65 Denver cent.

Bidding took place online and via broadcast from Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ Costa Mesa, California, headquarters. For this sale, the firm waived its buyer’s premium, meaning the hammer price matched the final amount paid.

With the conclusion of the auction, the cent enters a new era. The penny remains legal tender and billions continue to circulate, but no new cents will be produced for commerce. Going forward, the Mint will issue numismatic versions of the cent in limited quantities exclusively for collectors.