The U.S. Mint has officially stopped producing new pennies. After 232 years, the copper-colored coin is being retired due to rising production costs—each penny now costs nearly 4 cents to make. As we move into early 2026, here is what Metropolis residents can expect:
How Cash Transactions Will Change
While your existing pennies remain legal tender, you will notice a shift at the checkout counter.
Rounding for Cash: When paying with paper money, retailers may now round the total to the nearest five-cent increment. For example, a $1.02 total might be rounded down to $1.00, while $1.03 could be rounded up to $1.05.
Digital Stays Precise: Credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payments (like Apple Pay) are unaffected. These will still be processed to the exact cent.
Banks and Deposits: You can still spend the pennies you have or deposit them at your local bank. However, because new coins aren’t being added to the system, pennies will gradually disappear from circulation over the coming years.
Why the Change?
The Treasury Department reports that ending production will save taxpayers over $50 million annually. With the decline of cash and the low purchasing power of a single cent, the government has determined the coin is no longer fiscally responsible to produce.
A Tip for You: If you have a jar of pennies sitting on your dresser, now is the perfect time to bring them into your bank or use them for your next local purchase.
Stay tuned to WMOK for more local news updates. Have a question or a story idea? Text the WMOK Text Line at (618) 524-9209.
Comments