We have all heard someone ask on the street, “Can you spare some change?” What happens when that is the message from the United States Mint? Perhaps you heard about that great change shortage that took place during the lockdowns and stay-at-home mandates of 2020 and into 2021. Well, apparently that is continuing today in 2022.

The United States Mint has issued a formal press release asking the public to get those coins back into circulation. The Mint is asking the public to use exact change when making cash purchases, and also to turn coins in for cash at coin recycling kiosks.

The U.S. Mint has even reminded the public that coins may also be able to be redeemed for cash at financial institutions. Just don’t forget to ask them first because some banks and credit unions want you to roll those coins up in those tiny coin rolls.

According to the Mint, coins are just not circulating through the economy as quickly as they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Another issue is that cash transactions have decreased significantly since before the pandemic.

The Mint has also gone so far as to say that coins not being readily available where they are needed the most is not a coin supply problem — It is a circulation problem!

And there is the public service reminder that many people in the economy and many businesses rely solely on the cash economy:

There are many people who rely exclusively on cash and currency to pay for goods and services. There are also many businesses that rely on cash and currency for their day-to-day operations. These people and businesses feel a significant impact from the unavailability of coins… Since the coin circulation problem first emerged in 2020, the Mint has asked for the public’s help in solving this problem…

I promise, my contribution to the great coin shortage (see below) will take place in the coming days. By my estimates it is probably $700 or $800 worth of coins that remain… update to follow!