There is currently a shortage of coins in the United States. The pandemic has totally upended supply chains through which coins normally flow. Many stores that would have been a conduit for coins have closed temporarily or permanently.
Not only that, many retailers that do accept cash in the form of coins and paper money have seen a big shift to other forms of payment. This, one of the side effects of the increased awareness of touching shared surfaces to avoid transmission of the virus.
With so many of the systems that move coins through the U.S. economy interrupted, the Federal Reserve has decided to strategically allocate coin inventories. They’re basically rationing coins amongst the banks and credit unions that need them the most, while keeping close watch on what the mints are actually producing. Even with these measures in place, some banks may receive only a portion of the order of coins that they’ll need
Many retailers across the nation have, and will likely to continue to ask customers to pay with exact change.
With all this, it’s a great time to look through your coin collection to see if you have any valuable coins. Coins have suddenly become more rare across the board. You might be holding onto a coin that’s worth something, or is about to be.
