US stops minting pennies. What happens in CA if you don’t have exact change?

Federal mints across the United States, including one in San Francisco, will no longer produce pennies. What happens when they start running out?

The final one-cent coins to be produced in the United States were pressed Wednesday, Nov. 12, in Philadelphia, the U.S. Mint said in a news release.

U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach pressed a total of five pennies, which are marked with a special omega symbol and will be auctioned off, CNN reported.

“Today the Mint celebrates 232 years of penny manufacturing,” Kristie McNally, acting mint director, said in the release. “While general production concludes today, the penny’s legacy lives on. As its usage in commerce continues to evolve, its significance in America’s story will endure.”

The last pennies to be produced for circulation were pressed in June.

What does that mean for California consumers? And what will happen if you don’t have exact change for your purchase?

Here’s what to know:

How long has US used pennies? Where were coins produced?

The penny was first authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, the U.S. Mint said.

One-cent coins for circulation were previously produced at federal facilities in Philadelphia and Denver.

The San Francisco mint produced proof pennies specifically for collectors.

As of Thursday, Nov. 13, no more pennies will be produced for circulation in the United States, federal officials said, although some may still be produced as collector’s items.

Why are pennies no longer being distributed?

As secretary of the U.S. Treasury, Beach has the “authority to mint and issue one-cent coins in amounts deemed necessary to meet the needs of the United States,” the U.S. Mint said.

Beach has decided that producing pennies for circulation no longer meets the needs of the nation, federal officials said.

The U.S. Mint release cited “economic and production factors” that make producing new pennies unsustainable.

The cost of minting pennies has risen from 1.42 cents to 3.69 cents per coin in the past decade, the U.S. Mint said.

Are one-cent coins still legal currency?

Yes. Pennies are still considered legal tender in the United States and may be used for financial transactions, the U.S. Mint said.

Retailers can continue setting prices in one-cent increments, federal officials said.

Will US run out of pennies?

With an estimated 300 billion pennies still in circulation, there’s little danger of the coins running out any time soon, the U.S. Mint said.

Coins normally last about 30 years in circulation, according to a 2019 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

However, some restaurant chains say that pennies are already in short supply, CBS News previously reported.

What happens if I don’t have exact change?

McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Cinnabon and other chains told CBS News that they have instructed cashiers to round transactions to the nearest 5 cents if customers lack exact change.

Grocery store company Kroger said it will “kindly ask customers to consider providing exact change” and will accept pennies for payment, CBS News said.

The Kroger Family of Stores includes Food 4 Less, Foods Co and Ralphs locations in California.

In a Sept. 30 letter to Congress, trade organizations including the National Association of Convenience Stores and National Grocers Association asked for a federal law allowing stores to round prices to the nearest nickel, which at least 10 states and cities prohibit.

The National Retail Federation, whose members include Walmart, Target, Macy’s and Old Navy, also signed the letter, Reuters said.

Rounding up transactions to the nearest nickel could wind up costing consumers an estimated $6 million, USA Today reported.

This story was originally published November 13, 2025 at 12:54 PM with the headline "US stops minting pennies. What happens in CA if you don’t have exact change?."