The United States Congress has passed legislation formally ending the production of the penny after 234 years, moving a bill to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature. The Senate approved the measure by voice vote late Monday, reinforcing the decision by the U.S. Mint to halt penny production in 2025.

The legislation directs the government to discontinue minting the one-cent coin, which was among the first coins produced after the Mint’s establishment in 1792. The penny’s cost of production has steadily risen over the years, while its use has declined due to the growth of digital payment methods and changes in consumer behavior.

President Trump, who previously expressed support for ending the production of the penny, is expected to sign the bill into law. Last year, he posted on social media that the U.S. had been producing the coin for “far too long.”

The move to eliminate the penny reflects ongoing debates over the practicality and economic impact of coins with minimal purchasing power. Proponents argue that discontinuing the penny will reduce production costs for the government and businesses, while opponents raise concerns about rounding prices and their potential effects on consumers.

With the bill’s passage, the penny is set to become the first U.S. coin to be discontinued since the half-cent piece was phased out in the 1850s. Should the bill become law, it would mark the end of an era for a currency piece that has been part of American coinage since the country’s founding.