Farewell to the Penny: US Mint Halts Production After 232 Years
Peoplepickthemupforgoodluck.
人們撿起它們是為了祈求好運。
They’retossedintofountainsandvaluedbycollectors.
它們被丟進噴泉裡，受到收藏家的珍惜。
Morethan3billionpenniesweremadein 2024alone.
光是2024年就生產了超過30億枚一美分硬幣。
Andon November 12, 2025, theUnitedStatesMintproduceditsfinalbatch.
2025 年 11 月 12 日，美國鑄幣局生產了最後一批。
After232 years, nonew1¢coinswillbemade.
232 年後，將不再鑄造新的 1 分硬幣。
Penniesarefarfromgone:Anestimated250billionofthemarestillincirculation, andthey’llcontinuetobeacceptedaslegaltender.
便士遠未消失：據估計，目前仍有 2500 億枚便士在流通，並將繼續被接受為法定貨幣。
Butthe U.S. is officiallyonitswaytobecomingpenniless.
但美國正正式走向破產。
Governmentofficialsspentmonthswindingdownpennyproduction.
政府官員花了幾個月時間逐步停止生產一美分硬幣。
Thecoinisbeingdiscontinuedtosavemoney:LastMay, the U.S. Mintannouncedthatthecostofproducingonepennyisnearlyfourtimesitsvalue.
為了節省資金，這種硬幣將被停產：去年五月，美國鑄幣局宣布，生產一美分硬幣的成本幾乎是其價值的四倍。
Thegovernmentexpectstosave$56 millionperyearbynotmakingthecoins.
政府預計，不鑄造這些硬幣每年可節省 5,600 萬美元。
Readontolearnaboutthehistoryofthepenny, andwhathappensnowthatit’sonthewayout.
請繼續閱讀，了解便士的歷史，以及它即將退出歷史舞台後會發生什麼。
Thepennywasoneofthefirstcoinsthe U.S. Mintmade, shortlyafteritsestablishmentin 1792.
便士是美國造幣廠在 1792 年成立後不久鑄造的首批硬幣之一。
Itusedtobelarger, andmadeofpurecopper.
它以前更大，而且是用純銅製成的。
Nowadays, apennymeasuresjustthree-quartersofaninchacross, andismadealmostentirelyofzinc, withcopperplating.
如今，一美分硬幣的直徑只有四分之三英寸，幾乎完全由鋅製成，表面鍍有銅。
The U.S. Mintproducedpenniesin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Denver, Colorado.
美國鑄幣局在賓州費城和科羅拉多州丹佛生產一美分硬幣。
In 2024, morethanhalfofallcoinsproducedwerepennies.
2024年，生產的所有硬幣中超過一半是便士。
Lawmakershavebeentryingtogetridofthepennysince 1989, whenCongressintroducedabilltoroundcashtransactionstothenearestnickel.
自 1989 年國會提出一項法案，將現金交易四捨五入到最接近的五分錢以來，立法者就一直試圖取消一分錢硬幣。
Itdidn’tpass.
沒通過。
InFebruary 2025, PresidentDonaldTrumppostedabouttheissueonsocialmedia.
2025年2月，唐納德·川普總統在社群媒體上發布了有關該問題的貼文。
Thegovernmentwillcontinuetoproducespecialversionsofthepennyinlimitedquantities.
政府將繼續限量生產特殊版本的便士。
Thesewillbeintendedforcollectorsandhistoricalpurposes, ratherthanforregularcirculation.
這些產品將用於收藏和歷史研究，而不是用於日常流通。
TheRetailIndustryLeadersAssociationannouncedtheresultsofasurveyinNovember.
零售業領導者協會於11月公佈了一項調查結果。
Thesurveyfoundthatthousandsofretailersareseekingguidanceonhowtohandlecashtransactions.
調查發現，數千家零售商正在尋求如何處理現金交易的指導。
Whichofthesepopularpenny-relatedphrasesdoyouknow?
以下這些與便士相關的常用短語，你知道哪些？
Inforapenny, inforapound:Onceyou’vestartedsomething, seeitthrough.
既然已經開始做某件事，就要堅持到底。
He’spenny-wise, pound-foolish:He’scarefulwithsmallamountsbutnotlargeones.
他斤斤計較，卻忽略大事：小錢他很謹慎，大錢他卻不謹慎。
Heturnsuplikeabadpenny:Hekeepscomingback, unwanted.
他就像個不速之客：他總是回來，不受歡迎。
It’swortheverypenny:It’stotallyworththecost.
物超所值：絕對值這個價錢。
Itcostaprettypenny:Itwasreallyexpensive.
價格不菲：真的很貴。
Aha! Thepennydropped:Ifinallyunderstoodsomething.
啊哈！我恍然大悟：我終於明白了一件事。
People pick them up for good luck.
They’re tossed into fountains and valued by collectors.
More than 3 billion pennies were made in 2024 alone.
And on November 12, 2025, the United States Mint produced its final batch.
After 232 years, no new 1¢ coins will be made.
Pennies are far from gone: An estimated 250 billion of them are still in circulation, and they’ll continue to be accepted as legal tender.
But the U.S. is officially on its way to becoming penniless.
Government officials spent months winding down penny production.
The coin is being discontinued to save money: Last May, the U.S. Mint announced that the cost of producing one penny is nearly four times its value.
The government expects to save $56 million per year by not making the coins.
Read on to learn about the history of the penny, and what happens now that it’s on the way out.
The penny was one of the first coins the U.S. Mint made, shortly after its establishment in 1792.
It used to be larger, and made of pure copper.
Nowadays, a penny measures just three-quarters of an inch across, and is made almost entirely of zinc, with copper plating.
The U.S. Mint produced pennies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Denver, Colorado.
In 2024, more than half of all coins produced were pennies.
Lawmakers have been trying to get rid of the penny since 1989, when Congress introduced a bill to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel.
It didn’t pass.
In February 2025, President Donald Trump posted about the issue on social media.
The government will continue to produce special versions of the penny in limited quantities.
These will be intended for collectors and historical purposes, rather than for regular circulation.
The Retail Industry Leaders Association announced the results of a survey in November.
The survey found that thousands of retailers are seeking guidance on how to handle cash transactions.
Which of these popular penny-related phrases do you know?
In for a penny, in for a pound: Once you’ve started something, see it through.
He’s penny-wise, pound-foolish: He’s careful with small amounts but not large ones.
He turns up like a bad penny: He keeps coming back, unwanted.
It’s worth every penny: It’s totally worth the cost.
It cost a pretty penny: It was really expensive.
Aha! The penny dropped: I finally understood something.
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