Asia Tabb, Aired September 30, 2026
The penny has been part of American life for more than 230 years, but its future is changing after Congress moved to end production of the one-cent coin. The decision came as the cost of producing pennies continued to exceed their face value. According to the U.S. Mint’s 2024 annual report, it cost 3.69 cents to produce each penny, with rising zinc and copper prices contributing to the expense. On The Spark, we’ll talk with Tom Uram, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists, and Carlos Kearns, the organization’s vice president, about what led to the decision and what it could mean for the penny.
We’ll also look at the changing role of cash as more people use credit cards, debit cards and digital payment apps, along with the penny’s declining purchasing power. And while the penny may be becoming less common in everyday transactions, coin collecting remains popular in Pennsylvania. Uram and Kearns will talk about the state’s regional coin clubs, the history and appeal of numismatics and why people continue to collect coins.
Listen to The Spark on WITF:
https://www.witf.org/2026/10/01/what-the-end-of-the-penny-means-for-coin-collectors-in-pennsylvania/
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