The MINT Act of 2025: Say Goodbye to the Penny and Hello to a Zinc-Core Nickel

The aptly named Modernize and Improve our National Tender Act of 2025, or MINT Act, is taking aim at the smallest denominations of U.S. currency. This bill is a straightforward administrative move with a couple of real-world consequences for anyone who still uses cash, focusing on the penny and the nickel. Essentially, the Treasury wants to stop losing money making coins that cost more than they’re worth, and this bill gives them the green light.

The Penny’s Last Stand

Section 2 of the MINT Act mandates that the Secretary of the Treasury must stop producing one-cent coins for general circulation. That’s right, the penny is headed for retirement. For the average person, this is the biggest change. While the bill doesn't specify rounding rules—the detail everyone will be watching—it means that cash transactions will eventually need to be rounded to the nearest nickel. If you’re a small business owner relying on cash transactions, you’ll need to figure out how to adjust your pricing or change collection systems, even for things like sales tax. The good news? Any pennies you have stuffed in jars or under the couch remain legal tender; they just won't be minted anymore for everyday use. The Treasury can still make them, but only to sell to collectors (numismatists).

The Nickel Gets a Makeover

The bill also updates the rules for the 5-cent coin, or nickel, giving the Treasury Secretary significant new authority. Currently, the nickel is a specific copper-nickel alloy weighing 5 grams. Under the MINT Act, the Secretary can now decide to change the composition to a zinc core covered by an outer layer of nickel. The weight can also fluctuate, falling anywhere between 4 and 6 grams if this new composition is used. This change isn't automatic, though: the Secretary must first test the new zinc-core composition to make sure it actually saves money on production costs.

This is where the fine print matters. The bill gives the Treasury a lot of flexibility to alter the coin's weight and materials, contingent only on an internal cost-saving test. While the goal is efficiency—saving taxpayer money on coin production—it concentrates decision-making power regarding our currency's physical makeup. For manufacturers who supply the current metals, this signals a potential shift in contracts, and for consumers, it means the coins in your pocket might soon feel noticeably different (lighter or heavier) depending on how the Treasury decides to implement the new weight tolerances.