The U.S. Penny

money · history · coins

Tiny but ancient. The penny was first made in 1793, making it one of the oldest U.S. coins still around today. It has survived for over 230 years because people keep using it.

Worth one cent. A penny is worth one hundredth of a dollar, which means you would need 100 pennies to make one dollar. Even though it's small in value, it adds up fast.

Red and copper. Most pennies you see today are shiny and reddish-brown because they are made of zinc coated with copper. This gives them their distinctive appearance in your pocket or piggy bank.

The smallest coin. The penny became the lowest-value U.S. coin in 1857 when the half-cent was phased out. Before that, people could use even smaller coins to make purchases.

Still being made. The U.S. Mint produced pennies for circulation until 2025, and billions of them are still used every day in stores, vending machines, and homes across America.