Farewell, Penny: A Tribute to a Beloved Coin

Oh, dear Penny, you’ve been quite the trooper.

We picked you up, and you brought us good luck. Remember when we used to give you to others, and it felt like we were gifting them ideas? And then there were those wild debates about whether dropping you off the Empire State Building could be lethal. That was a fun thought experiment.

Now, at an age of 232, you’re no longer around. But let’s be honest, even polished, you don’t hold the same value for us anymore. From paying Union soldiers during the Civil War to the day I only buy gumballs in bulk, we’ve moved on to larger expenses.

Like many Americans, you hail from the British penny line. Those coins used to be so valuable they were subdivided, similar to how the British had their halfpenny and farthing. Back in England, coin history goes way back to royalty—impressive, right? Your name probably carries roots that trace back to meanings of “bread” in German, evolving from words like Pfanne and Fennig.

The first U.S. penny, however, came into existence in 1787, though it wasn’t called a penny then. It was known as the Fujio Cent, meaning “flying away” in Latin. The captivating wording on that copper coin was “Beware”—more of a quip than a serious warning, I suppose.

In 1975, a child could still snag bubble gum for a penny. Those days are long gone; now you have to buy in large quantities to even dream of that price.

A century after Abraham Lincoln’s birth, in 1909, his image debuted on coins, marking a historic first—having a president’s portrait on U.S. currency. It’s intriguing that you were the pioneer of carrying “In God We Trust” before it became a national motto on all coins.

Interestingly, current pennies are composed of only 2.5% copper, with zinc taking over. Makes sense, right? The mint’s production costs now make it challenging to create more of you in the future.

While new pennies might not grace our pockets anytime soon, it seems you’ll stick around for the next 30 years or so. That’s what tends to happen with coins, according to the U.S. Treasury.

Who knows, maybe by the 2050s, penny loafers will make a comeback! In the ’30s, kids would stash money in their shoes for emergency calls—imagine if someone designed trendy phone shoes before we run out of pennies?

Meanwhile, even though you’re gone, you live on in spirit. We ceremoniously toss you into the collection jars, and wisdom continues to flow, with every penny representing a thought. A penny saved is still a penny earned, so we’ll keep pinching those pennies. And yes, placing a shiny one in a bride’s shoe for luck shall always be a cherished tradition.

James Geary, author of The World in Phrases: A Brief History of Proverbs, mentions that the penny is ideal for proverbs because both are small—simple yet mighty. While we won’t be dropping you from heights, you remain significant in small ways. The myths surrounding your potential danger have been cleared; let’s be real, you float, but you won’t harm anyone.

As we bid you adieu, rest easy, sweet Penny. You’ve earned it.