There are about 114 billion pennies currently in circulation in the United States, but they are severely underutilized, according to the Treasury Department. ????? ???????  

The one-cent piece has been part of the fabric of America since 1792. Lincoln's portrait has been embossed on it for 116 years, according the U.S. Mint's website. ????????????  

Printing a paper $1 bill is cheaper than producing a penny, which, according to the U.S. Mint, is comprised of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper and requires a smelting process to mold the metals. According to the Federal Reserve, it costs Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing 3.2 cents to print a $1 note – less than the cost of minting a penny.�

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the cost of producing a single penny has more than doubled in the past 10 years, from 1.3 cents to 3.69 cents in 2024. ????? ???????  

"For far too long the United States has minted pennies, which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is wasteful!" Trump wrote. "I have instructed my Secretary of Treasury to stop producing new pennies. Let's rip the waste out of our great nation's budget, even if it's a penny at a time." ????????????