Just got this email from Stack's. There doesn't appear to be a link to an article, just the contents of the email, so I'll post as screenshots. So there's actually 232 sets of these, 2025, 2025-D, and 2025 struck in 24 karat gold. Set #232 will include the cancelled dies. There is no mention of the "last five." And look! He's wearing gloves this time!
There is going to be the LAST penny! Ok, make that the FIVE last pennies. Actually, make that the TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO last pennies. Never mind. There will be 232 Denver cents, 232 Philadelphia cents, and then 232 gold cents. Make that the 696 last pennies! By golly, why not just make "the last cent" and mail it to every household as a final farewell?
Even more remarkably, this sale will represent the fifth time SB has been selected, under three separate administrations, to harvest private profit and prestige from US Mint artifacts. And yet, I expect not a single remark from anyone tasked with rooting out corruption or inside dealing.
Oh, and I see that they're generously waiving the buyer's premium on these sets. Wonder what they're paying the Mint for the coins that will be auctioned? I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it's the normal going rate for two special-strike cents and one gold commemorative.
But have we heard the last of the last of all the "last" nonsense? My December coin budget only has enough for the 1804 dollar.
I'm waiting for, "Oh wait, actually due to such and such, 2026 will be the actual last year of the cent".
How do they auction 232 sets at the same time? Will there be 232 individual auctions, or will it be just one that continues until there are only 232 bidders remaining, and then from there continue with those 232 to get to the top bidder who gets the last set including the dies?
We collectors can take relief in knowing that these tokens are not part of the US One Cent population.
Time to start saving 2025 cents and get them ready for the gold electro plating machine. Will the gold ones have the W mintmark? Asking for a friend
I think that in order to be consistent that the mint should procure 232 1793 Cents and mark them with an Alpha privy mark. Hence the Alpha and Omega of the US Cent.
Well, actually.... they are talking about making special collectors editions in 2026 for the semiquincentennial.... I haven't heard anything about that recently though, so that may be cancelled.
https://www.usmint.gov/news/media-kit/penny "Yes. The Mint will continue to produce numismatic (collector) versions of the penny in limited quantities."
I wish I could remember what coin Stack's did this with a few months ago. I think the cancelled dies were also in the last lot? Or something special. One auction, one lot each, one right after the other. Maybe somebody remembers what auction that was. Seems like they'll do the same with these.