The U.S. government started making pennies in Philadelphia in 1793 when the city was the nation’s capital. It stopped Wednesday, November 12, as U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach stepped up to a machine in the penny room of the world’s largest coin factory and ceremonially pushed a button to strike the last handful of copper-clad, mostly zinc, one-cent coins. In fact, however, the last pennies struck for public circulation left the Mint in July, staffers said. The Mint still produces nickels, which a