The Penny’s Dead! Here’s What Happens to Your Spare Change After 2026

Alright, let’s talk about pennies. You know, those little copper-colored coins we all shove into jars, lose in the couch, or find rattling around in our cars?

Well, here’s the deal: the U.S. government has finally decided to stop making them starting in early 2026. Yep — after years of debate, the penny is on its way out.

But don’t panic — your spare change stash is still safe. Here’s everything you actually need to know (without the confusing government speak).

Why Is the Penny Going Away?

Honestly? It costs too much to make.

Right now, it takes about 3.7 cents just to make a 1-cent coin. That makes zero financial sense. In 2024 alone, the government lost around $85 million just from producing pennies. That’s a lot of money for a coin we rarely use.

And let’s be real — when’s the last time you used one?

Between inflation, digital payments, and self-checkout machines that spit them out like they’re trash, the penny has become kind of… pointless.

What Happens to All the Pennies Already Out There?

Here’s the good news: they’re not going anywhere (yet).

If you’ve got pennies stashed in a drawer, jar, or your kid’s piggy bank, you can still spend them. They’ll still be accepted in stores, vending machines, wherever — for now. No one’s forcing you to cash them in or throw them away.

Eventually though, like all coins, they’ll slowly vanish from circulation. People will stop using them, businesses might stop accepting them, and you’ll see them less and less. But no official “penny purge” is happening.

Will Stores Start Rounding Prices?

Probably, yes — but only for cash payments.

Let’s say your total comes to $8.97. If you’re paying with a card or app, you’ll still pay $8.97. But if you’re using cash, it might round up to $9.00. Or if it’s $8.92, it could round down to $8.90. It’s not a scam — it’s how other countries like Canada already do it.

Bottom line? If you mostly pay digitally, you’ll barely notice a thing.

Should You Keep Your Pennies?

You might want to check them first.

Some rare or old pennies — especially ones from before 1982 (they’re mostly copper) or with minting errors — could be worth way more than a cent. We’re talking hundreds or even thousands of dollars in some cases.

So before you dump your change at the grocery store coin machine, give it a once-over. That “worthless” penny could actually be a mini jackpot.

So Is This Really Goodbye?

Kinda, yeah. The penny’s had a good run — over 230 years, to be exact. But times change.

We’re not using cash as much anymore. Prices have gone up. And it just doesn’t make sense to keep spending more to make something that nobody really needs.

Still, for many of us, the penny holds memories: pressing them into souvenir machines, tossing one into a fountain and making a wish, or counting them out at a lemonade stand. It’s a small part of everyday American life — one that’s slowly fading away.

If you’re wondering what to do with your pennies:

• Keep a few as a keepsake.

• Check them for rare ones.

• Spend them when you can.

• And don’t stress — no one’s coming for your change jar.

The penny isn’t disappearing overnight, but the countdown has definitely started.

Let me know if you want help spotting valuable ones — or if you’re curious what coin might be next on the chopping block.