Last penny minted in the US sells for millions of dollars at auction
The last U.S. penny ever minted sold at auction for millions of dollars.
Penny mourners gather for a funeral in Washington, D.C., at the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday, Dec. 20, just over a month after the United States stopped producing the penny.
The event, which includes former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln as one of its organizers, is being held to “honor our fallen friend,” according to Partiful’s invitation page. The funeral will be held on December 20 at 1:01 p.m. at the monument to President Abraham Lincoln, whose face appears on the coin.
Attendees are encouraged to “BYOP (bring your own penny) to pay your respects.”
“Let’s give our little copper heroes the send-off they deserve,” the invitation said, adding that the Treasury Department’s decision to halt penny minting was not “retirement” but “murder.”
penny funeral dress code
Organizers are advising funeral attendees to wear funeral attire, including black clothes, black veils and “watery eyes.” Attendees should note that there is an emphasis on Victorian attire. The invitation states that Abraham Lincoln costumes are also encouraged.
The memorial is still being drafted, but mourners should expect statements from coin appraisers, Treasury Department representatives, and “other notable mourners,” Mary Todd Lincoln.
Ramp, a financial operations platform, is also listed as a host for Partiful pages. Lamp reposted an Instagram video of DC influencer Tony P discussing the event.
“Thanks to my friend @tryramp, I’m thrilled to be live at this historic event honoring Penny this Saturday, December 20th at 1:01pm at the Lincoln Memorial!” Tony P’s post caption reads.
USA TODAY contacted Lamp on Dec. 17 but did not receive a response.
Other social media users also seem to be looking forward to the funeral. Earlier this week, one user posted a video of himself dressed as Abraham Lincoln and asked Penny mourners to attend the event.
Social media users said flyers advertising the event were also posted around the city, with a penny in the sky and the words “Come mourn Penny.”
USA TODAY requested additional information from the National Park Service, the agency that manages the Lincoln Memorial and approves events at the facility, but did not receive a response.
According to Partiful’s page, more than 700 people have applied to participate in the event as of 3pm ET on Wednesday, December 17th.
When did the United States stop producing pennies?
The U.S. Mint struck the last penny in circulation in the United States on November 12 in Philadelphia. This month, a special auction of about 700 rare pennies sold for about $16.8 million.
The coins auctioned by Stack’s Bowers Gallery on Thursday, Dec. 11, included the last 2,025 pennies produced by the U.S. Mint, paired in 232 sets of three coins. Each set included a unique 24 karat gold uncirculated penny.
President Donald Trump said in February that he had directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt production of the coins as a cost-cutting measure. According to the U.S. Mint’s 2024 annual report, it costs the United States 3.69 cents to produce one penny.
The penny was first minted for circulation in March 1793 at the newly established United States Mint in Philadelphia. Approximately 11,178 of the copper cents were originally minted for circulation.
In 1982, pennies were made primarily of zinc and contained only 2.5% copper. Abraham Lincoln’s face was added to the penny in 1909.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Please contact mdelrey@usatoday.com.
