UPDATE: A mock funeral for the penny unfolded at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on December 20, 2025, marking the end of over 230 years of one-cent coin production. Hosted by financial management platform Ramp, the event drew a crowd eager to pay their respects to the iconic coin, now discontinued.
Attendees gathered around a casket, witnessing eulogies delivered by actors portraying significant historical figures, including Mary Todd Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln. The event featured a striking portrait of Abraham Lincoln made entirely of pennies, symbolizing the coin that has been a staple in American currency since the Coinage Act of 1792.
The funeral follows a ceremonial event last month where Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent struck the nation’s final penny, officially concluding its production. Rising costs—each penny now costs nearly 4 cents to produce—combined with changing consumer habits favoring digital payments, rendered the penny impractical for continued minting.
A crowd dressed as historical figures, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, as well as characters like Pennywise from “It,” added a unique flair to the proceedings. Ramp economist Ara Kharazian delivered an “autopsy report,” detailing the economic reasons behind the penny’s demise.
The event holds significant emotional weight as the penny has circulated through American piggy banks and cash registers for generations. Attendees were encouraged to toss pennies into the casket, symbolizing the end of an era.
In February 2025, former President Donald Trump announced plans to halt penny production, stating on Truth Social, “For far too long, the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful!” His directive led to the closure of the penny minting process.
As the nation bids farewell to the penny, observers and historians will be watching for the implications of this change on future currency practices. The mock funeral not only highlights the end of a long-standing coin but also invites discussions about the future of currency in an increasingly digital world.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story continues to develop.
