Omega Privy Mark 2025 Lincoln Cents Three-Coin Set. The Last Circulating Cents. Set Number 79 of 232. (PCGS).
Set #79 of 232, Included are:
2025 24 Karat Gold Cent, Omega Privy Mark, MS-69 (PCGS)
2025 Circulating Cent, Omega Privy Mark, MS-65 RD (PCGS)
2025-D Circulating Cent, Omega Privy Mark, MS-66 RD (PCGS)
These
Omega privy mark 2025 Lincoln cents are not simply coins; they are a
tangible chronicle of America over the past 232 years. They symbolize
the story of a nation growing stronger over time, with roots planted in
1793 and blossoming continuously over the following two centuries.
America's one cent coin, or penny, is a pocket-sized dose of freedom.
These
Omega coins trace their origins to the foundational years of our
economic system and the American experiment itself. Authorized in 1792
as part of the Coinage Act, the first official circulating one cent
wouldn't emerge from the United States Mint until the following year,
1793, with the striking of the iconic Chain Reverse cent. Since then,
the cent has accompanied our nation through every high and low, every
triumph and transformation. While officially legislated as "one cent,"
the denomination is also widely known as the "penny": a name borrowed
from the British copper coin of a similar value that was widely used in
commerce in early America. This British denomination was itself
originally modeled on the Roman Denarius and similar ancient currencies,
dating back to more than 2,000 years ago. Today, both cent and penny
are used interchangeably to refer to this ubiquitous denomination.
The
current Lincoln design type was first introduced in 1909 to honor the
centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth and has become the most enduring
circulating design in American history. It has persisted through the
dawn of aviation, the tragedy of World Wars, the birth of the computer,
and now the rapid emergence of Artificial Intelligence. For every
generation of Americans alive today, Lincoln's likeness has been a
constant companion.
The Alpha and the Omega
On
June 4, 2025, the United States Mint officially ceased production of the
circulating cent by order of United States President Donald J. Trump
and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, marking the final chapter in this
legacy. In commemoration of this landmark announcement, the United
States Mint created a final mintage of 2025 Lincoln cents distinguished
by an Omega privy mark, a small but powerful "Ω" symbol representing the
last letter of the Ancient Greek alphabet introduced almost 3,000 years
ago. The first letter of the Greek alphabet is the Alpha, which would
correspond to the 1793 Chain cent under this symbolism. As a pair, the
Alpha and the Omega serve as powerful emblems to signify an enduring
legacy. The phrase "Alpha and the Omega" has its origins in the bible, a
concept from Isaiah meaning "the first and the last", which was later
adopted into Greek alphabet symbolism in the Book of Revelation to refer
to the eternal nature of God and Christ being both the beginning and
the end of everything. These ancient origins and timeless associations
make the Omega a fitting icon for the conclusion of the one cent
denomination.
While a version of the cent will live on as part
of annual Proof and Mint sets with special finishes, these Omega coins
serve as the conclusion to the classic circulating finish that has
helped countless Americans pay for a can of soda or a candy bar across
more than a century.
Just 232 three-coin sets with Omega privy
marks were produced for issuance to the public, comprising one each of
the 2025 and 2025-D Lincoln cent in the classic circulating finish,
along with a 2025 Lincoln cent in 24 karat gold-the first cent ever officially struck in gold by the United States Mint.
Rendered in a special burnished finish, these gold cents stand among
the rarest non-Proof gold issues ever produced by the Mint, and they are
possibly the most historically significant American coins struck in the
21st century.
Each of these three-coin Omega sets is
accompanied by a serialized Certificate of Authenticity, and set #232,
the last coins struck for this purpose, will also include the three sets
of canceled original dies used to strike these coins. In recognition of
their historic significance, United States Treasurer Brandon Beach and
United States Mint Acting Director Kristie McNally personally operated
the presses to strike many of the final Omega coins.
These Omega
coins boast the lowest mintages in the Lincoln cent series and are some
of the rarest coins of the entire one cent denomination. Their
respective mintages of 232 coins are more than 2,000 times lower than
that of the famous 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln cents and only a fraction of
the production quantity for the original 1793 Chain Reverse cents that
started it all. The most valuable 1909-S V.D.B Lincoln cent was sold for
more than $300,000 and the most valuable 1793 Chain cent was sold for
more than $2 million; these Omega coins are magnitudes rarer than
either. Though millions of collectors are actively assembling sets of
Lincoln pennies at any given time, only 232 will have the opportunity
for true completion via this historic offering.
Creating the Historic Omega Cents
The
production of these historic Omega sets was a coordinated national
effort by the teams at the United States Mint and the Treasury. The
Omega coins were struck in several batches across three different days
in the summer and fall of 2025. The first to be struck for this special
offering were the 232 circulating coins from the Denver Mint, which
were completed in a single day on Friday, August 8. After striking a
handful of classic circulating and gold coins intended as Mint heritage
assets, the Philadelphia Mint then struck the first 230 coins each of
the classic circulating cent and the 24 karat gold cent on Tuesday,
September 23. These Philadelphia coins had the distinction of being
struck by Acting Mint Director Kristie McNally, who personally operated
the presses. With the majority of these Omega sets coined by the end of
the summer, there still remained four coins-two each of the circulating
Philadelphia and the 24 Karat gold cents-left to be produced before the
legacy could be fully complete.
The Last Strike Ceremony
On
Wednesday November 12, 2025, the collective gaze of American
numismatics was focused on the United States Mint at Philadelphia for
the final striking ceremony of the very last circulating cents. The
ceremony itself was a national moment, generating widespread media
coverage and attended by prominent officials from both the Treasury and
the United States Mint. In preparation for the conclusion of the series,
three test strikes were produced and eventually discarded. In
recognition of their historic importance, United States Treasurer
Brandon Beach personally operated the presses for the final four Omega
cents-two each of the circulating and gold cents-adding a personal and
institutional touch that will forever resonate with collectors and
historians.
As a symbol of commerce, aspiration, generosity, and
luck, the United States one cent coin is an ambassador for the American
dream. The bright glint of a new cent was often the first moment of
financial independence or discovery, found in change jars, wishing
fountains, lemonade stands, church offerings, charity drives, and
childhood piggy banks. It is as universal and iconic as baseball, muscle
cars, blue jeans, apple pie, and rock and roll. While not everyone has
eaten a hot dog at a Yankees game, virtually every living American has
held or seen a Lincoln cent. These 2025 Omega privy mark cents
encapsulate and honor this shared national experience. They are the
final scene to your favorite movie or the last shooting star before
dawn, a hand-held conclusion to a 232-year journey through American
history.
The American One Cent Coin
The American
one cent coin was first authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792, and the
first cents were delivered in March 1793. At their inception, George
Washington had only just begun his second term as President and the
Louisiana Purchase, which would double the size of America, was still a
decade away. Featuring a personified portrait of Liberty with flowing
hair and a bold chain design on the opposite side, these 1793 Chain
cents were designed to symbolize strength, unity, freedom, and Liberty
itself. The chain itself was comprised of 15 links, each representing
one of the 15 states in the Union at the time including the 13 original
colonies as well as Vermont and Kentucky. These Chain cents are the
Alpha to today's Omega, and they still stand as one of the most
captivating and perpetually desirable relics from early America.
Over
the following years and decades, the cent went through various
iterations including different interpretations of Liberty on the obverse
and evolving reverse designs from the chain to a wreath, symbolizing
the growing nation and economy. Perhaps the boldest transition came in
1856, just before the Civil War, with the introduction of the Flying
Eagle cent. This new design type represented a paradigm shift that
included the replacement of Liberty on the reverse with an eagle and the
change in composition from copper to a copper-nickel-and eventually
bronze-alloy. Most dramatically, the dimensions were shrunk by more than
30%, as both a cost saving measure and an effort to increase their
convenience and usability when compared to the larger, more cumbersome
earlier format. This Flying Eagle cent was relatively short-lived and
the eagle was replaced in 1859 with another effigy of Liberty, the
Indian head cent. It is this transition to the small cent format,
however, which serves as the template of the Lincoln cents, as well as
the 2025 Omega cents.
| MINTAGE | 232 | 232 | 232 |
| FINISH | Circulating | Circulating | Uncirculated (Burnished) |
| COMPOSITION | 2.5% electroplated copper; balance zinc | 2.5% electroplated copper; balance zinc | 99.99% gold |
| DIAMETER | 0.750 inch (19.05 mm) | 0.750 inch (19.05 mm) | 0.750 inch (19.05 mm) |
| WEIGHT | 2.50 grams | 2.50 grams | 6.03 grams |
| GOLD FINE WEIGHT | N/A | N/A | 0.213 troy ounce |
| EDGE | Plain | Plain | Plain |
| MINT | Denver | Philadelphia | Philadelphia |
| MINT MARK | D | None | None |
| PRIVY MARK | Omega (Ω) | Omega (Ω) | Omega (Ω) |
