Current status: The U.S. Mint ended production of circulating one-cent coins in November 2025. Pennies already in circulation remain legal tender, businesses may continue pricing to the cent, and collector versions may still be produced. Ending production is not the same as removing the penny from every transaction.
What changed—and what did not
The final circulating penny was ceremonially struck on November 12, 2025, ending a 232-year production run. The Mint says the decision reflected the supply already in circulation and a production cost that had risen to 3.69 cents per coin.
What changed
- No new pennies are being produced for general circulation.
- Businesses may encounter uneven local coin availability over time.
- Cash-handling procedures may need review.
What did not
- Pennies remain legal tender.
- Existing pennies can still be used.
- Prices and electronic transactions can remain denominated to the cent.
Cash rounding is a policy decision, not an automatic rule
If a business cannot make exact change, it may consider a cash-rounding method, subject to applicable federal, state, and local requirements. A common international model rounds only the final cash total symmetrically to the nearest five cents:
| Final cents | Symmetric nearest-five result |
|---|---|
| Ending in 1 or 2 | Round down to 0 |
| Ending in 3 or 4 | Round up to 5 |
| Ending in 6 or 7 | Round down to 5 |
| Ending in 8 or 9 | Round up to the next 0 |
| Ending in 0 or 5 | No change |
Canada uses that type of fair, transparent rounding for final cash payments while electronic payments continue to settle to the cent. The Canadian model is a useful operational example, not a statement of U.S. legal requirements.
Important distinction: Monroe's existing article described a calculator function that rounds totals up to a five-cent increment. That is not the same as symmetric nearest-five cash rounding. Do not use any calculator mode as a retail policy until your organization confirms the legal, tax, accounting, receipt, and customer-disclosure requirements.
A business readiness checklist
-
Monitor actual coin availability.
Do not assume every location or bank will experience the same timing. -
Review applicable requirements.
Consult tax, legal, consumer-protection, and accounting advisers for the jurisdictions where the business operates. -
Define when rounding applies.
Document whether it applies only when exact cash change is unavailable and confirm that electronic payments remain exact. -
Configure the point of sale and receipts.
Ensure the unrounded total, taxes, payment type, and any cash adjustment are recorded clearly. -
Train employees.
Give staff examples for sales, returns, split payments, tips, gift cards, and cash-back transactions. -
Explain the policy to customers.
Use plain signage and consistent receipt language. -
Reconcile the drawer and ledger.
Create an accounting process for any rounding differences and review it with the appropriate adviser.
Where a printing calculator may help
A printing calculator can support training, reconciliation, and a paper record of selected calculations. Some Monroe heavy-duty models may include a user-defined five-cent round-up function, but eligibility and operation should be confirmed in the current manual or directly with Monroe before use.
A calculator does not establish a compliant rounding policy, determine when a penny is unavailable, or replace a properly configured point-of-sale system.
Frequently asked questions
Are pennies still legal tender?
Yes. The U.S. Mint says pennies remain legal tender and may still be used in transactions.
Did the United States require all stores to round to a nickel?
The Mint's production suspension does not, by itself, create a universal business-rounding rule. Requirements may vary, and businesses should obtain jurisdiction-specific guidance.
Should card payments be rounded?
Electronic payments can still settle to the cent. A business considering any different treatment should first obtain appropriate legal and accounting guidance.
Confirm calculator functions before changing a workflow
Review the manual for your exact model or ask Monroe to confirm whether a rounding function matches the procedure your organization has approved.
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