Rick Harrison says final US pennies may fetch 6 figures each, says nickel is ‘next to go.’ Why that’s a big red flag

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It’s been 232 years since the first U.S. penny entered circulation, and the last one-cent coin has now been struck.

But don’t expect those final pennies to jingle around in anyone’s pocket. They may never see everyday use — because they could be worth far more than their face value.

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How much more?

Pawn shop owner and “Pawn Stars” personality Rick Harrison believes they could command six figures.

“People have thrown out million-dollar numbers. I don’t think it’s going to be that much. I think they’ll probably go for a couple of hundred thousand apiece,” Harrison told Fox News (1). “Coin collectors do go nuts, but there [are] a lot of other coins worth a million bucks that are a lot cooler.”

On Nov. 12, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach struck the final five pennies for circulation at the Philadelphia Mint (2). Ending production is expected to save the Mint roughly $56 million a year.

President Donald Trump has blasted the penny as “so wasteful,” citing its production cost (3). In fiscal 2024, each penny cost 3.69 cents to mint — more than triple its face value — resulting in an $85.3 million loss (4).

And Harrison says the penny might not be the last coin to disappear.

“I’m sure the nickel is the next thing to go, because I think we’re paying nine or 10 cents to make a nickel,” he said, adding, “when the government prints a lot of money, the smallest denominations go away first.”

He might be onto something. The cost of making a nickel in fiscal 2024 was 13.78 cents — nearly three times its face value. As a result, the Mint lost $17.7 million on nickel production that year.

To be clear, while no new pennies will be produced, they remain legal tender and will continue to circulate. Still, Harrison’s point hits at a broader reality: With aggressive money printing, the dollar’s purchasing power keeps shrinking. Pennies, nickels, dimes — even dollars — simply don’t go as far as they once did.

A penny used to buy a stick of gum or a piece of candy. Today, it buys almost nothing, and many vending machines and parking meters won’t accept one at all.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, $100 in 2025 buys what just $12.05 did in 1970 (5).

The good news? Savvy investors have long found ways to protect their wealth from inflation’s bite.

A shiny safe haven

If you’re someone who still loves mint — not the kind that churns out pennies, but the kind that produces real stores of value — there’s a shiny alternative: gold.

Unlike the penny, which has lost nearly all of its purchasing power, gold has helped people preserve wealth for centuries. The precious metal can’t be printed out of thin air like fiat money, and because it’s not directly tied to any single currency or economy, gold often acts as a safe-haven asset, especially during periods of economic or geopolitical uncertainty.

Over the past 12 months, gold prices have surged by more than 50%.

Earlier this year, Harrison noted that the gold market has “gone absolutely nuts,” pointing to a clear driver behind the surging demand: “We live in a world where we're printing money like confetti.”

He’s not the only one noticing gold’s potential. Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, told CNBC earlier this year that “People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” adding, “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”

For those looking to capitalize on gold’s potential while also securing tax advantages, one option is to open a gold IRA with the help of Goldco.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties. With a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver, which has also been on a historic run this year.

If you’re curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today to find out more.

Trending: Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year — and he begs investors not to miss its ‘explosion’

A time-tested income play

But gold isn’t the only asset investors turn to during inflationary times. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.

When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.

Over the past five years, the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has jumped by 47% (6), reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply.

Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn’t exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns).

The good news? You don’t need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived can offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, midnight maintenance calls or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase and then sit back as you  start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

But investing in vacation rentals isn’t your only option. You could also invest in the $22.5 trillion commercial real estate sector, which has been limited to a select group of elite investors — until now.

First National Realty Partners (FNRP) allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties, without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.

With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to triple net leases, accredited investors can invest in these properties without worrying as much about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.

Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.

An overlooked asset class

But not everyone wants to invest in real estate, and even if you do, it’s often a good idea to diversify your portfolio — especially if you have capital on hand.

This is where, for many investors, alternative assets come into play. These can include everything from real estate and precious metals to private equity and collectibles.

But there’s one store of value that often goes neglected by investors: post-war and contemporary art.

Think about it: The supply of these pieces is limited, and many famous pieces have already been snatched up by museums and collectors. That scarcity can also make art an attractive option for investors looking to diversify and preserve wealth during periods of high inflation.

Until recently, purchasing art has been a domain reserved for the ultra-wealthy — like in 2022 when a collection of art owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen sold for $1.5 billion at Christie’s New York, making it the most valuable collection in auction history (7).

Now, Masterworks — a platform for investing in shares of blue-chip artwork by renowned artists, including Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Banksy — can help you get started with this asset class. It’s easy to use and Masterworks has had 25 successful exits to date, distributing $65+ million in total proceeds (including principal).

Simply browse their impressive portfolio of paintings and choose how many shares you’d like to buy. Masterworks can handle all the details, making high-end art investments both accessible and effortless.

Note that Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Investing involves risk. See Reg A disclosures at masterworks.com/cd.

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

Fox News (1); Reuters (2); @realDonaldTrump (3); United States Mint (4); Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (5); S&P Global (6); Christie’s (7)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.