Last-Ever Penny Sets, Including 24K Gold Cent, Head to Auction on Thursday

Collectors are bracing for a landmark moment in US numismatic history as Stack’s Bowers Galleries prepares to auction all 232 limited-edition three-coin sets marking the end of penny production. The sale, scheduled for Thursday, December 11, closes the book on a 232-year chapter that began with the first US cents of 1793.

Created by the United States Mint exclusively for this auction, each set includes a 2025 penny from Philadelphia, a 2025-D penny from Denver and, for the first time ever, a 24-karat, 99.99% fine gold penny, struck in Philadelphia.

The gold cent — already considered one of the rarest modern US Mint issues — contains 0.213 troy ounces of pure gold and carries an uncirculated, burnished finish. With a mintage of just 232 pieces, it ties the record for the lowest production of any Lincoln cent in history.

Every coin in the series bears a unique Omega (Ω) privy mark, a symbol chosen deliberately. Omega, the final letter of the Greek alphabet, signifies completion — the fitting punctuation mark on the penny’s 232-year run. As Mint Acting Director Kristie McNally noted on usmint.gov, “The penny has withstood 232 years of our Nation’s history,” making this farewell both historic and deeply symbolic.

The US Mint halted circulating penny production in late 2025 after years of rising costs and changing consumer behavior. According to the Mint, each cent now costs 3.69 cents to manufacture — a growing burden on taxpayers. Meanwhile, an estimated 300 billion pennies remain in circulation, far more than commerce requires. Though minting is ending, the penny will remain legal tender, and the Mint will continue producing limited numismatic versions.

The December 11 sale is the only venue where collectors can acquire these final circulating pennies and the first-ever gold cent. Demand is expected to be intense, especially with thousands of Lincoln cent specialists competing for only 232 sets.

Projected sale prices, according to dealer and market analysis, show why anticipation is soaring: Standard Sets (#2–231) are expected to achieve $15,000 to $30,000 each, with potential spikes to $40,000+.

The first-struck Set #1 should fetch between $40,000 and $75,000, with speculation that it could break six figures.

The last-struck Set #232 (with original dies) is currently attracting the most attention. Estimates range from $350,000 to $500,000+, with some predicting it could reach $750,000 — or even $1 million if institutional or museum buyers join the bidding.

Set #232 includes the three original dies used to strike the coins, making it the most important modern cent release since the legendary 1909-S VDB.

Credits: Coin renderings courtesy of the United States Mint. Background image by The Jeweler Blog using ChatGPT and DALL-E 3.