The last circulating pennies ever struck by the United States Mint have entered the history books—this time at auction. On Thursday, December 12, Stack’s Bowers Galleries sold 232 exclusive three-coin sets on behalf of the U.S. Mint, achieving a staggering $16.76 million in total sales. The offering marks the most valuable special-issue coin auction ever conducted for the Mint, more than doubling the previous $7.5 million record set in 2002.
Each set contained three pieces:
- A 2025 Lincoln cent from the Philadelphia Mint
- A 2025-D Lincoln cent from the Denver Mint
- A 24-karat gold 2025 “Omega” cent struck in Philadelphia
Every coin features a distinct Ω (Omega) privy mark, a tribute signaling the official end of more than 230 years of U.S. cent production—a lineage that began in 1793 with the iconic Chain Cent.
A Fiercely Competitive Sale
Due to overwhelming collector interest, the auction began slightly behind schedule but quickly ignited nearly four hours of intense bidding. The first set offered, Set #1, captured immediate attention, soaring to $200,000 and setting the tone for a historic session.
At the opposite end of the catalog, Set #232—containing the very last circulation-intended pennies struck at both Philadelphia and Denver, plus the final gold Omega cent—achieved an astonishing $800,000. The lot also included all three pairs of canceled dies used in striking this final series. With this result, Set #232 becomes the most valuable modern U.S. numismatic item ever sold, surpassing the previous $550,000 record for the Space Flown Gold Sacagawea Dollars sold by Stack’s Bowers in 2025.
Across all 232 lots, the sale averaged more than $72,000 per set, roughly 80 times the combined gold melt value of the collection. Seventeen lots exceeded the $100,000 mark—an extraordinary signal of widespread enthusiasm for this historic capstone to the American cent.
A New Milestone for U.S. Mint Partner Auctions
The success of the Omega cent sale reinforces Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ unique standing as the U.S. Mint’s trusted auction partner. This marks the fifth time the Mint has selected the firm for a special offering, a distinction unmatched by any other auction house worldwide. Past collaborations include:
- The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle sale in 2002 ($7.5 million)
- The 35th Anniversary American Eagle sale in 2022 ($4.6 million)
- The 230th Anniversary Flowing Hair coins in 2024 ($8.2 million)
- The Space Flown 24k Gold Sacagawea Dollars in 2025 ($3.2 million)
Stack’s Bowers Galleries President Brian Kendrella reflected on the company’s continued partnership with the Mint:
“It’s an extraordinary honor to again be selected to offer exciting numismatic rarities to the collecting public. They captured the public imagination like few rare coins we’ve ever handled. Even our staff of expert numismatists…were excited by the chance to handle the very last pennies struck before the suspension of circulating production.”
Learn More
Collectors seeking more information about the Omega privy-mark Lincoln cents—or wishing to consign their own collection—may contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries at 800-458-4646 or info@stacksbowers.com.