Funeral service held for the discontinued penny at the Lincoln Memorial

Hundreds of people gathered this weekend to bid farewell to the penny at the Lincoln Memorial. 

The small but iconic piece of U.S. history has been discontinued after more than two centuries in circulation. 

Ramp, an expense management platform, organized the event, which was complete with a white casket, dramatic readings, and performers dressed in Victorian attire, The Washington Post reported.

Impersonators of Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary Todd, and presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson made appearances. 

One economist delivered an “autopsy report” on the penny’s economic life, explaining how it ultimately cost more to produce than it was worth — a key reason behind the U.S. Mint’s decision to halt production. 

People approached the open casket to “pay their respects,” placing pennies inside, while a guest book and penny-press station offered keepsakes and memories, according to The Washington Post.