did they stop making pennies

They have not completely stopped making pennies yet, but the U.S. Treasury Department has announced that it will stop producing pennies starting in early 2026. The Mint placed its final order for blank penny discs in May 2025 and will produce pennies only as long as there is inventory of these blanks left. Pennies will remain legal tender and continue to circulate for years, but new pennies will no longer be minted after the existing stock is used up. This decision is primarily due to the cost of producing each penny exceeding its face value, which results in significant losses for the government. Businesses and retailers are expected to adjust cash transactions by rounding prices to the nearest nickel once pennies become scarce.