News in Brief

US Mint Production Exceeds 1.4 Billion Coins

According to the US Mint’s May production figures, circulating coin production has exceeded 1.417 billion coins. This is a 13.4% increase from the previous month, and 12.9% increase from the same time last year – a 14 month high in terms of monthly output. This is also the fifth month in a row that the US Mint has exceeded the 1 billion production mark.

Around 37.2% of those coins produced last month were cents (totalling 528 million), 11.9% nickels (169.6 million), 26.7% dimes (340.4 million), 24% quarters (340.4 million), and 0.12% half dollars (1.7 million). The half dollar (or 50 cent) coins are currently produced as collectibles but are still able to be ordered by the Federal Reserve for circulation and remain legal tender. The same applies for the Native American $1 coins, although the May figures show that none were produced during the month.