The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Stephen Presents: Penny Press
Mar 26, 2026
A comedic deep dive into the end of penny production and what that means for everyday life. Fun nostalgia about paying with and collecting pennies, plus a nerdy look at how penny materials changed over time. A hands-on tour of penny press machines and plans for custom designs to live in a TV lobby. Short lessons on comedic shorthand and when to stop explaining a joke.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Stephen's Penny Collecting Childhood
- Stephen Colbert describes his lifelong penny collection and childhood habit of carrying many pennies, including excitement over rare 1909 mint varieties.
- He recalls steel wartime pennies, the 1982 copper-to-zinc change, and dreaming of finding a 1909 [VDB] worth a fortune.
How Penny Press Machines Create Souvenirs
- Stephen explains how penny press machines work: insert two quarters and a penny, crank a dial, then the machine flattens and imprints designs like Niagara Falls.
- He describes installing a custom Late Show penny press with designs of the band, theater, Colbert logo, and faces.
Why The Penny Is Being Phased Out
- Stephen notes the vending industry lobbied to end the penny because accepting pennies causes jams and fraud and production costs exceed face value.
- He points out minting cost and vendor annoyance as practical drivers behind eliminating penny production.