RIP Abe: My Thoughts on the Demise of the Lincoln Cent

I’ve been thinking a lot about the talk that the U.S. Mint might stop making Lincoln cents once they run through their current batch of blanks. Like many of you, I’ve collected these pennies for years, and the idea feels like closing a long chapter. Since 1909, they’ve been a constant in our pockets and collections. Let me share some thoughts on what this might mean for us.

What’s Happening with Penny Production

News reports say that after using up the existing supply of cent blanks, the Mint probably won’t order more, effectively stopping production. Now, this isn’t law yet—Congress would need to officially kill the cent—but it’s a clear sign things are changing. I’ve seen these debates pop up before, often driven by the rising cost of materials. For us collectors, it means we should start thinking about scarcity. If 2025 or 2026 cents turn out to be the last regular issues, they could become surprisingly important down the road.

What This Means for Your Collection

If this is truly the end, it breaks a chain stretching back to 1909, and even further to the first U.S. small cents in 1793 (minus that one quiet year in 1815). That’s a *lot* of history! Here’s where my focus is landing:

• Recent Cents: Grab any shiny 2025 cents you spot in change—I’ve already snagged a few from self-checkouts. If you’re thinking about grading, look for coins with crisp details on Lincoln’s face and a sharp shield on the back. Submitting pristine examples to PCGS or NGC now could be worth it if these become key dates.
• Proof Sets: Will proof cents vanish too? It’s uncertain, but I wouldn’t be surprised. If you collect proofs, now’s a good time to grab recent sets.
• Older Pennies: Keep an eye out for classics like the 1909-S VDB or nice Wheat cents. I’ve already seen some prices creeping up on dealer lists.

A Bit of Nostalgia & Thoughts on Design

I’ve always loved Victor Brenner’s Lincoln design. It brings back memories of sifting through bank rolls hunting for sharp Wheat pennies. Some folks have tossed around ideas, like maybe retiring the Roosevelt dime and giving Lincoln a new spot on a slightly bigger coin. While that’s just talk, it shows how redesigns could keep Abe’s image alive. For me, the cent lost some charm after 2008 when the shield reverse replaced the Lincoln Memorial – it never quite captured the same magic. But finding those early, uncirculated Wheat cents? That feeling never fades.

Looking Ahead & Some Practical Tips

Ditching the cent could open the door to other changes. Remember when Canada got rid of their penny? They even had a buy-back program. We don’t have anything like that planned here yet. This whole thing might push the Mint to experiment with different metals for nickels or dimes, too. Here’s what I’m doing:

• Save smartly: Pick up uncirculated rolls or mint sets if you can. While stores might start rounding prices, stashing away a few rolls now could be handy for trades later.
• Watch 2026: If they make cents that year, it could mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. coinage. That might make it a sleeper hit worth having.
• Elongated Pennies: Those squished penny souvenirs might become relics. If you see one at a zoo or museum, grab it – they’re quirky pieces of history.

While the Lincoln cent’s path forward is foggy, its place in numismatics is rock solid. I’ll be holding onto mine, and I’d encourage you to document this shift. Every coin has a tale, and for the Lincoln cent, this chapter’s far from over.