The Penny Costs 3.69 Cents to Make.

Imagine running a business where every time you sell a product for one cent, you spend four cents manufacturing. You’d probably reconsider your operating model quickly.

The United States government took many years to reconsider a similar situation.

For years, the U.S. Mint produced pennies that cost more to manufacture and distribute than their face value. By 2025, that cost had reached 3.69 cents per penny.

In a remarkable admission of poor expense management, the U.S. Mint announced on November 12, 2025 its final circulation of the penny, ending a 232-year production run.