The Indicator: Take A Penny, Leave A Penny, Get Rid Of The Penny
Short Wave
NPR
4.7 • 6K Ratings
🗓️ 18 December 2025
⏱️ 12 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In November, the U.S. stopped production of the humble penny after 232 years in circulation. On today’s show, Darian Woods and Wailin Wong from NPR's daily economics podcast The Indicator unpack the fiscal math that doomed the penny, and an artist pay tribute to this American icon.
Follow the Indicator on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
View more of Robert Wechsler’s artwork here.
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Transcript
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| 1:27.1 | You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.org today. Thank you. You're listening to Shortwave from NPR. Hey, shortwaver's Emily Kwong here. |
| 1:33.8 | Tis the season of giving. And we are giving you a little extra something to listen to today an episode |
| 1:39.0 | from our podcast, Cousins, NPR's economics show, The Indicator. Now this piece you're about to hear is all about the penny. Why this innocent piece of currency may soon be a thing of the past. This episode's got a little science, it's got a little math, it's got fun penny facts. We think you'll like it. And we'll be back with our regular show tomorrow. In the meantime, give the indicator a follow. There's a link in our episode notes. Okay, here are Waylon Wong and Darian Woods. |
| 2:08.2 | I'm Darien Woods. And I'm Waylon Wong. Pennings are everywhere. They're between our |
| 2:14.5 | couch cushions and on the floor of our cars. They're in fountains and junk drawers. |
| 2:19.6 | And there's even a penny on Mars. |
... |
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