All I Want for Christmas Is the Last U.S. Cent

The final issues of America’s longest-running coin will be up for sale by year’s end, according to some sources. The U.S. Mint stopped producing cents months ago, but on November 12, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach visited the Philadelphia Mint to strike the last five circulating cents for an end-of-series auction. Each coin bears a special omega privy mark. As the last letter of the Greek alphabet, omega symbolizes the end of the beloved denomination’s  232-year run. 

The mint has not yet revealed details about the auction, but a Reuters article reported additional information “from a source familiar with the matter.” These unverified claims state that the mint struck 232 omega-marked cents, one for each year of cent production, plus three additional display examples, and that the mint also struck 235 gold “cents.” The article also states that the auction will be held in December and that all auction proceeds will benefit mint operations, with surplus funds going to the Treasury.

Going Out with a Bang

Although the U.S. Mint will no longer produce business-strike cents, it will continue to create numismatic versions of the cent in limited quantities for historical and collector purposes. Nevertheless, collectors are gearing up for the end of the series. According to CoinWeek, the numismatic community can expect renewed demand for:

• High-grade early Lincoln cents
• Classic key dates like the 1909-S VDB and 1914-D
• Wartime and composition rarities
• Modern low-mintage issues
• Certified rolls and bags

Despite the uncertainty about the sale’s contents, hobby experts anticipate a dynamite auction. John Feigenbaum, publisher of Greysheet and executive director of the Professional Numismatists Guild, told USA Today, “Collectors would go nuts for a modern rarity of business-strike Lincoln cents. The demand would be incredible because the item would be a required element of a truly complete set.” Feigenbaum believes they could fetch $2 million to $5 million each. The omega-marked final cents are poised to become some of the most coveted contemporary coins ever produced. 

Editor’s note: This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more information as the mint releases details about the auction.