2025 1C The Very Last Circulating Cents Omega Privy, RD (Regular Strike)

Production of the American one cent coin began at the Philadelphia Mint on March 1, 1793 with the striking of the Chain Cent (#1340) and ended there on November 12, 2025, with the striking of the final four Omega-privymarked "pennies" struck (two in copper-plated zinc and two in 24-karat gold). These final strikes were produced for a 232 three-coin-set send off for the denomination. The number 232 was chosen to represent the 232 years in which the cent was actually struck, acknowledging the fact that no 1815-dated cents were produced due to a copper shortage resulting from the War of 1812.

Over the course of that period, the United States Mint produced over 540 billion “pennies”, though most were struck from 1919 onward. In 1857, it took an Act of Congress to discontinue the bulky Large Cent in favor of the cheaper, smaller cent. In 2025, it took a “Truth” from President Donald J. Trump on his social media site to bring closure to a conversation that had lingered on in Washington for more than fifty years.

The passing of a denomination is a numismatically significant event. The end of the Large Cent and Half Cent era brought with it a burst of enthusiasm for coin collecting. The passing of the Small Cent era is likely to engage a new generation of collectors as the once-ubiquitous coin passes into obscurity.

The Final Striking

The copper-plated zinc 2025 Lincoln Shield Cents with the Omega privymark were struck on September 23 and November 12, 2025. Acting United States Mint Director Kristie McNally struck 230 pieces and an equal amount of the Omega gold cents. Present for the event were Philadelphia Mint employees and staff from Mint headquarters.

On November 12, United States Treasurer Brandon Beach struck the final two Omega circulating cents and the final two gold Omegas. Present for this event were Philadelphia Mint employees, Mint headquarters employees, and members of the Press (the Press were present for the circulating striking only).

The United States Mint has confirmed to PCGS that the 232nd Set, which will be sold with the cancelled dies, was the final set struck. Given the legendary popularity of the Lincoln Cent, it is only fitting that opens and closes with two key date issues.

Auction and Grading

The Omega-privymarked Lincoln Cent sets were auctioned by Stack’s Bowers on December 11, 2025. To prepare the coins for sale, Stack’s Bowers selected PCGS as the exclusive grader of the final U.S. cents. PCGS received the coins in late November and certified all 696 coins (232 sets of three) with an exclusive Omega label.

The 2025 Philadelphia-struck copper-plated zinc Omega cents graded MS63RD to MS66RD, with the final two cents struck grading MS64RD.

Interest in the auction was so immense that a technical issue delayed the sale for several minutes. When the action resumed, bidders responded with great enthusiasm. Sets 1 through 231 sold from $48,000 to $200,000. Set 232, which was comprised of the very last cents struck (including the 24-Karat Gold Cent) plus the cancelled dies used to strike them, sold for $800,000. In total, the Omega Cent offering realized $11,288,500.

Digging Deeper: Sets that included a top-pop 2025 (P) Omega Cent sold for a median price of $110,000. Meanwhile, the eight sets that PCGS identified as having the highest aggregate grade (2025 (P) MS66, 2025-D MS66, and 2025 (GOLD) MS69) carried a median price of $117,500.

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