The department says it has placed its final order for penny blanks, and production will end when they run out, which will likely be early 2026, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the decision.

The American penny will begin its slow fade into non-existence as the government plans stop making the U.S. currency next year.

It may be time to start collecting pennies.

After more than 200 years, we bid farewell to our small-denominated currency that grew to become a symbol of thriftiness and luck.

The cost of producing a penny has skyrocketed in recent years, reaching 3.69 cents, according to the Treasury Department.

The penny’s run is coming to an end. First minted in 1792, it has been in circulation constantly. It wll be sunseted next year. Afterward, things that cost a penny must “round up” or “round down” to a nickel.

This move by the U.S. Treasury, motivated by rising production expenses and a call for fiscal frugality, has opened up an across-the-board debate about its effect on shoppers, retailers, and the entire economy.