The penny is making a comeback. Just don’t try to spend it

The last pennies for general circulation were minted last year, but a newly passed bipartisan bill to formally sunset the 1-cent coin includes a single clause that keeps the penny alive, even if it’s just as a collectible. On September 28, the Senate voted to pass the Common Cents Act by unanimous consent, and the bill now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk. The legislation formally asks the Treasury secretary to cease minting pennies and sets rules for price rounding: In any transaction where exact change cannot be provided, people and financial institutions should round down to the nearest nickel if the price ends in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents, and round up to the nearest nickel if the price ends in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents. The legislation states that pennies produced before the Common Cents Act becomes law remain legal tender, but otherwise it prohibits the U.S. Mint from making more pennies—with one exception. Tucked into the legislation is wording that says the Treasury secretary “may continue to produce and issue one-cent coins for sale as numismatic items,” or collectible currency. The Mint did not immediately return a request for comment about whether any commemorative pennies ar…