The 1-cent coin is officially history: this week, after 232 years, the U.S. Mint has produced its final penny. Why? It now costs 3.69 cents to make a single one-cent coin—nearly four times its value. With hundreds of billions already in circulation, ending production will save the government millions each year. Here’s what to talk to your kids about: • Why the penny mattered for so long—and what it symbolized about hard work and everyday life. • If they were in charge, would they keep the penny