In a unique and symbolic gathering, individuals congregated in the heart of Washington, D.C., on Saturday to honor the penny, a small yet iconic piece of American currency that has reached the end of its production life.

Organized by the financial management platform Ramp, a mock funeral unfolded at the Lincoln Memorial, marking the official cessation of the one-cent coin’s minting, as covered by FOX 10. The event, steeped in historical references and sentimentality, drew a crowd eager to pay tribute to a coin that had long been a staple in everyday transactions.

The ceremony featured speakers delivering heartfelt eulogies, with actors stepping into the shoes of historical figures such as former President Abraham Lincoln and former First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Their presence added a poignant touch, given Lincoln’s enduring connection to the penny.

Adding to the event’s rich symbolism, a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, crafted entirely from pennies, was displayed prominently. This artistic homage served as a visual reminder of the coin’s legacy and Lincoln’s enduring role in American history, as reported by The Associated Press.

In a striking scene captured by AP photographer Julia Demaree Nikhinson, men dressed as Abraham Lincoln solemnly carried a casket down the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. This act underscored the significance of the occasion, as attendees reflected on the penny’s discontinuation earlier this year, marking the end of an era in American currency.

Actors portraying Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were among the mourners, along with a portrayal of John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, FOX 10 reported.

The crowd also included people dressed as Santa Claus and Pennywise, the clown from “It.”

Ramp economist Ara Kharazian delivered an “autopsy report” outlining the penny’s economic demise.

The funeral followed last month’s ceremonial striking of the nation’s final penny by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, officially marking the end of penny production.

The penny has been part of the U.S. currency since the very beginning. It was first authorized under the Coinage Act of 1792.

For more than 230 years, the penny has circulated through American piggy banks and cash registers.

But rising production costs – each penny now costs nearly 4 cents to make – and shifts in consumer behavior, such as the rise of digital payments, have made it impractical to keep producing them.

People gather to throw pennies into a casket during a mock funeral for the penny, which was discontinued earlier this year, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

In February, President Donald Trump announced plans to halt the production of pennies.

“For far too long, the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This is so wasteful! I have instructed my Secretary of the U.S. Treasury to stop producing new pennies.”