The US Mint will no longer produce pennies due to the high production cost exceeding their face value. But what does this mean for those holding onto old coins? Most pennies are worth only one cent, making them essentially worthless. However, some rare varieties, like 1943 copper Lincoln wheat pennies, can be valuable if in good condition.
Most people have a few pennies lying around that they’ve never looked at or counted. With the US Mint stopping production of new pennies, many are wondering what to do with their old coins. The answer is not as exciting as you might think – most pennies are worth only one cent, making them essentially worthless.
But some rare varieties can be valuable if in good condition. These include 1943 copper Lincoln wheat pennies, which were produced accidentally by the US Mint during World War II. In rare cases, these coins have sold for over $1 million at auction. However, finding a penny like this is extremely unlikely, and most will only fetch a few dollars.
So what can you do with your worthless pennies? You can either save them as a nostalgic reminder of the past or cash them in for a small amount of money. Some banks will take old coins for free, but not all may accept them.
The decision to stop producing pennies is also sparking debate over other coins that are equally problematic. Some experts argue that eliminating both the penny and nickel would create new problems, such as consumers struggling to pay with nickels if they can’t use pennies.
Ultimately, while some old coins might be worth a few dollars, most pennies are just collecting dust in your pocket or piggy bank. So, what do you plan to do with your worthless pennies?
Source: https://eu.freep.com/story/news/local/2025/05/27/donald-trump-treasury-pennies-nickels-valuable-lincoln-wheat/83875569007