Last U.S. cents sold at auction for a sum of $16.76 million were worth a pretty penny
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Article contentTo those who argue that the U.S. penny had no value: some coin collectors beg to differ.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentIn fact, they doled out millions for the final pennies circulated in the U.S. before the government ended the cent’s production back in November.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentThe U.S. Mint sold 232 three-cent sets for a whopping sum of $16.76 million at an auction last Thursday hosted by Stack’s Bowers Galleries.Article contentThe 232nd set — containing the last three pennies ever made _ sold for $800,000. That bidder also got the three dies that struck those Lincoln cents.Article contentArticle contentJohn Kraljevich, director of numismatic Americana at Stack’s Bowers, said it was the kind of auction where you don’t know the items’ market value until people make their bids.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article content“I’ve been going to coin auctions for 40 years, and I can tell you, I’ve never seen anything like this, because there’s never been anything like this,” Kraljevich said.Article contentStack’s Bowers President Brian Kendrella said: “They captured the public imagination like few rare coins we’ve ever handled.”Article contentWhen it was introduced in 1793, a penny could buy a biscuit or a piece of candy. Now most of them are tucked away into jars or junk drawers.Article contentThey can also be relics of history for coin collectors.Article contentEach set comprised 2025 pennies struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the Denver Mint and a 24-karat gold penny to cap off the end of an era. Each cent also bore a unique Omega symbol.Article contentThere were 232 grouplets to reflect each year the coin had been embedded in American culture.Article content“American culture has incorporated the penny into our lexicon, into our pop culture, into all of this stuff,” Kraljevich said. “And I think for a lot of people, the ending of production of cents for circulation is an item of nostalgia.”Article content___Article contentOlivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.Article contentTrending Expect 'dramatically higher' oil prices in 2026, says Eric Nuttall Oil & Gas The Federal Reserve’s rate cut was a clear signal to investors Investor Bank of Canada wants to make stablecoins 'good money,' Macklem says Finance McKinsey plots thousands of layoffs in consulting slowdown Work Bank of Canada expected to hold interest rate steady through 2026 as inflation cools Economy Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Expect 'dramatically higher' oil prices in 2026, says Eric Nuttall Oil & Gas The Federal Reserve’s rate cut was a clear signal to investors Investor Bank of Canada wants to make stablecoins 'good money,' Macklem says Finance McKinsey plots thousands of layoffs in consulting slowdown Work Bank of Canada expected to hold interest rate steady through 2026 as inflation cools Economy