Knowledge Explorer lesson
Meet the Coins
How much is each coin worth?
The United States has four common coins: the penny, the nickel, the dime, and the quarter.
A penny is worth 1 cent (1¢). It is copper-colored and shows Abraham Lincoln. A nickel is worth 5 cents (5¢). It is silver-colored, has a smooth edge, and shows Thomas Jefferson.
A dime is worth 10 cents (10¢). It is the smallest coin, has a ridged edge, and shows Franklin D. Roosevelt. A quarter is worth 25 cents (25¢). It is the biggest of the four, has a ridged edge, and shows George Washington.
Size does not tell you value! A dime is smaller than a penny and a nickel, but it is worth more than both.
On November 12, 2025, the U.S. Mint stopped making pennies for everyday spending. Pennies people already have are still real money worth 1 cent, and the Mint may still make some special pennies for collectors.
What you will learn
- Recognize pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters by how they look
- Tell the value of each coin using the ¢ symbol
- Understand that a coin's size does not tell its value
Key facts
- A penny is worth 1¢.
- A nickel is worth 5¢.
- A dime is worth 10¢.
- A quarter is worth 25¢.
- The dime is the smallest coin, but it is worth more than a penny or a nickel.
- Pennies are copper-colored. Nickels, dimes, and quarters are silver-colored. Dimes and quarters have ridged edges.
- New pennies stopped being made for everyday spending on November 12, 2025, but pennies are still legal money worth 1¢.