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Military Exchanges End Penny Use -- Cash Rounded to Nickel
Staff Member
December 23, 2025 at 7:00 AM EST
The U.S. Mint has stopped producing pennies after 238 years due to production costs exceeding their value. Starting January 1st, Army and Air Force exchanges will round cash purchases to the nearest nickel, with Navy exchanges following soon. Overseas military exchanges have been using this rounding system since the 1980s. The 300 billion pennies already in circulation will continue to be used for years, just not at stateside military exchanges.
The penny has officially dropped for the last time. After 238 years, the U.S. Mint has stopped producing the coins. Why? Today, a single cent buys nothing. And producing a penny actually costs nearly four cents. Ending production saves the government millions. So, what does this mean in military exchanges? Starting January 1st, Army and Air Force exchanges will round cash purchases to the nearest nickel. Navy exchanges will follow soon. Overseas exchanges? They've been rounding since the 80s. So nothing changes there. Don't worry. Pennies aren't gone. The 300 billion of them already in circulation will keep changing hands for years. Just not at your military exchange.