The Penny Is Dead. Now Washington Is Coming For Another Coin

Following the Treasury Department's decision to cease penny production in December 2025, lawmakers are pushing for reforms to the nickel. The bipartisan Common Cents Act, which has passed both the House and Senate but awaits President Trump's signature, aims to permanently abolish the penny and mandate a study into cheaper materials for the nickel. Current data indicates that each nickel costs approximately 13 cents to produce due to the rising costs of copper and nickel, resulting in an 8-cent loss per coin for taxpayers.

Following the Treasury Department's decision to cease penny production in December 2025, lawmakers are pushing for reforms to the nickel. The bipartisan Common Cents Act, which has passed both the House and Senate but awaits President Trump's signature, aims to permanently abolish the penny and mandate a study into cheaper materials for the nickel. Current data indicates that each nickel costs approximately 13 cents to produce due to the rising costs of copper and nickel, resulting in an 8-cent loss per coin for taxpayers.