U.S. coin presses slowed for a third month in row but struck more than 1.1 billion coins for a sixth straight month and the sixteenth time in the last seventeen months, manufacturing figures from the United States Mint show. The monthly pace fell 9.1% from May and dropped 15.4% from June 2021.
Still, the U.S. Mint produced over 7.6 billion coins for circulation in the first half of 2022, marking their quickest six-month start since the first half of 2016.
For the monthly total, which was just above 1.1 billion coins, production was spread across cents, nickels, dimes, quarters and half dollars. In standouts, the cent ratio tally was lower than typical and half dollar mintages increased for a second consecutive month.
Here’s how June compares against other months in the past year:
June 2021 to June 2022 Circulating Coin Production
| Month | Mintages | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| June 2022 | 1,141.60 M | 11 |
| May 2022 | 1,255.32 M | 6 |
| April 2022 | 1,278.88 M | 4 |
| March 2022 | 1,452.58 M | 2 |
| February 2022 | 1,260.12 M | 5 |
| January 2022 | 1,249.84 M | 7 |
| December 2021 | 953.37 M | 13 |
| November 2021 | 1,104.7 M | 12 |
| October 2021 | 1,213.86 M | 8 |
| September 2021 | 1,169.28 M | 10 |
| August 2021 | 1,187.32 M | 9 |
| July 2021 | 1,505.24 M | 1 |
| June 2021 | 1,348.60 M | 3 |
The U.S. Mint’s main mission is to manufacture coins based on the nation’s demand and transport them to Reserve Banks and their coin terminals for distribution into circulation.
The Federal Reserve orders more 1-cent coins from the U.S. Mint than any other denomination even as data shows that it costs 2.1 cents to make and distribute each one. The Mint struck 458.4 million Lincoln cents in June, representing 40.2% of the circulating-quality coins produced last month. Typically, the percentage is much higher — around 50% to 55%.
Month-Over-Month
In month-over month comparisons for coins used daily by Americans, production totals in June saw:
- 22.1% fewer Lincoln cents,
- 10.5% more Jefferson nickels,
- 0.2% more Roosevelt dimes, and
- 0.7% more quarters.
Native American $1 coins are no longer ordered by the Federal Reserve, but they are still made in circulating quality for coin collectors. The same is true, or was until last year, for Kennedy half-dollars. Traditionally in January, the U.S. Mint produces both denominations to the expected amounts needed for the entire year. That turned true for Native American dollars in 2021 and for this year (so far), but not for halves which saw their mintages increase in May and June and last year in February, March, April, May and August.
Published mintages of 2022 Native American dollars were unchanged in June, as mentioned, with equal splits of 980,000 from Denver and 980,000 from Philadelphia for a combined 1.96 million coins. In contrast, the 2021 dollar logged splits of 1.26 million for Denver and 1.26 million for Philadelphia for 2.52 million coins.
In May, mintages for the 2022 Kennedy half-dollar increased for the second time this year, posting a combined increase of 3.6 million to more than double the 3.2 million made in January. They climbed again in June by 2.9 million. Half dollar mintages now stand at 4.9 million from Denver and 4.8 million from Philadelphia for a total of 9.7 million.
Last year’s half-dollar ended with a mix of 7.7 million from Denver and 5.4 million from Philadelphia for a combined 13.1 million.
The U.S. Mint started selling rolls, bags and boxes of 2022 Native American dollars on Feb. 9. It released rolls and bags of 2022 Kennedy halves on May 5.
Here’s a summary of all the circulating-quality coins produced last month:
U.S. Mint Circulating Coin Production in June 2022
| Denver | Philadelphia | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Cent | 228,800,000 | 229,600,000 | 458,400,000 |
| Jefferson Nickel | 78,000,000 | 79,200,000 | 157,200,000 |
| Roosevelt Dime | 141,500,000 | 134,000,000 | 275,500,000 |
| Quarters | 126,400,000 | 121,200,000 | 247,600,000 |
| Kennedy Half-Dollar | 1,500,000 | 1,400,000 | 2,900,000 |
| Native American $1 Coin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 576,200,000 | 565,400,000 | 1,141,600,000 |
Minting facilities in Philadelphia and Denver are tasked with making all U.S. coins for commerce. Last month, the Denver Mint struck 576.2 million coins and the Philadelphia Mint pressed 565.4 million coins for the combined 1,141,600,000 coins.
Coin Production in First Half of 2022
Through the first half of this year, the Denver Mint made 3,934,440,000 coins and the Philadelphia Mint made 3,703,900,000 coins for a total of 7,638,340,000 coins, which is 3.8% more than the 7,359,700,000 coins minted in the first half of last year. The starting six-month pace was the quickest since 8,363,480,000 coins were struck in the first half of 2016.
This next table lists coin production totals by denomination and by U.S. Mint facility:
YTD 2022 Circulating Coin Production by Denomination
| 1 ¢ | 5 ¢ | 10 ¢ | 25 ¢ | 50 ¢ | N.A. $1 | Total: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 2042 M | 413.76 M | 807 M | 665.8 M | 4.9 M | .98 M | 3934.44 M |
| Philadelphia | 1936 M | 384.72 M | 741 M | 636.4 M | 4.8 M | .98 M | 3703.9 M |
| Total | 3978 M | 798.48 M | 1548 M | 1302.2 M | 9.7 M | 1.96 M | 7638.34 M |
If the current production pace stretched through to December, the annual mintage for 2022 would near 15.3 billion coins. The U.S. Mint manufactured nearly 14.5 billion coins for circulation in 2021.
2022 Quarter Mintages
In addition to the 2022 Native American dollar with its one-year-only design, the U.S. Mint through June released the first three issues from their four-year program of American Women quarter dollars. Each features a unique design. They include:
- the 2022 Maya Angelou quarter which began circulating in early January. (The Mint started selling collectible Maya Angelou quarters in rolls and bags on Feb. 7.)
- the 2022 Dr. Sally Ride quarter which started circulating toward the end of March. (The Mint started selling collectible Dr. Ride Sally Angelou quarters in rolls and bags on March 22.)
- the 2022 Wilma Mankiller quarter which began circulating in early June. (The Mint started selling collectible Mankiller quarters in rolls and bags on June 14.)
From the overall production total, there are 253.2 million in quarters that the U.S. Mint has yet to officially assign to a design. These are all likely a portion of more-to-come Mankiller quarters.
This last table offers a breakdown of this year’s mintages that have been reported by coin design, including the first two quarters:
2022 Circulating Coin Production by Design
| Denver | Philadelphia | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Cent | 2,042,000,000 | 1,936,000,000 | 3,978,000,000 |
| Jefferson Nickel | 413,760,000 | 384,720,000 | 798,480,000 |
| Roosevelt Dime | 807,000,000 | 741,000,000 | 1,548,000,000 |
| Maya Angelou Quarter | 258,200,000 | 237,600,000 | 495,800,000 |
| Dr. Sally Ride Quarter | 278,000,000 | 275,200,000 | 553,200,000 |
| Wilma Mankiller Quarter (expected release in June) | – | – | – |
| Nina Otero-Warren Quarter (expected release in summer) | – | – | – |
| Anna May Wong Quarter (expected release in fall) | – | – | – |
| Kennedy Half-Dollar | 4,900,000 | 4,800,000 | 9,700,000 |
| Native American $1 Coin | 980,000 | 980,000 | 1,960,000 |
| Total | 3,804,840,000 | 3,580,300,000 | 7,385,140,000 |
if they stopped making cents would anyone really care, besides collectors, the mint and metal miners? if you just went to the store and they said ‘sorry, out of pennies’ people would just get over it pretty quickly.
I asked the cashier for $20 back so I could put it in a Birthday card and she looked at me like I asked for her soul. I also got a $10 scratcher and it had 11 $10 winners on one ticket so I had to go back and tell the B she owed me $110 more….
Aside from that I can’t remember the last time before that I used cash or coins – strictly debit card all the way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypkv0HeUvTc
Cash is king when paying for home construction ect. No tax and cheaper deals.
Indeed c_q and Kaiser. In 1958, the penny and the nickle had more purchasing power than the dime and the half have today. No one needed smaller coins for change then. We should be getting along just fine with a 1/10 dollar coin and a 1/2 dollar coin.Lets get rid of all the tiny bits. Still plenty of room for coin art, and people can fill up their coin jars with something that has more value.
Canada already did in 2012.
Congrats First-On-Thread https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUvVdTlA23w
Damn that Manson
They are here
.
Had to destroy the shipping box – could not get that Government adhesive to give – scared of damaging the coin
Uncanny, SENZA, my CPH was also delivered 20 minutes ago. They are a keeper!
Congrats Rich, They are “better than expected”
Here are some Tools you may find helpful in opening the shipping box
Still processing ?
I noticed only a few comments on Youtube of people saying they got theirs.
Several people speaking negatively about this blog and it’s Author for the posting of US Mint numbers that don’t add up.
NICEEEEEE 🙂
Still waiting on all the PHs I ordered – they’re processing but no postage affixed to parcel 🙁
Worst case scenario is the old 2 week rule – The US Mint allegedly Guarantees delivery in 2 weeks or 14 business days or something like that –
I’m very surprised at how perfect it looks and the obverse details
nobody else seems to post relevant coins on this blog
Last night Mint charges my credit card for the backorder half dollar PH coin so hopefully next week all my PHs get sent out – fingers crossed.
Glad you received your PHs quickly SENZA.
Enjoy your weekend 🙂
That’s why I look forward to 4:30 p.m. every weekday. 🙂
I got mine (and the three-coin set) today. The colorized coin is a beauty. It has MUCH better use of color than the two basketball HOF proofs.
Congrats REB,
You know I’m a complainer when it comes to the Mint and I have no complaints this time
I’m right there with you. I have a love/hate relationship with the Mint. I love the colorized coin but I hate that I have to call to get the loyalty shipping charges credited … AGAIN … FOR THE SEVENTH TIME THIS YEAR!!!!!!!
Guess we’re getting into McDonald’s territory here – Billions and Billions served 😉
.
This might explain the rate of inflation. The more money in circulation, the lower its value. Whaw, whaw, whaw.
So your calls are being answered by Marilyn Manson? Some kids should start jamming the mint’s phone lines requesting to speak with the man himself. I’m on a highway to hell….