The final batch of pennies ever produced for everyday circulation just went under the hammer, fetching $16.76 million at auction. It's a symbolic moment. As governments phase out low-denomination physical currency, the shift highlights a deeper economic reality: the era of traditional cash-only economies is fading. This backdrop makes the rise of digital and decentralized financial systems even more noteworthy. Whether it's stablecoins, blockchain-based payment rails, or crypto adoption in emerging markets, the infrastructure for currency beyond banks and mints is accelerating. The auction of these last pennies feels like a marker—one chapter closing, another beginning.