The closures of businesses and banks around the country due the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly disrupted the supply chain and circulation patterns for U.S. coins, according to a statement from the Federal Reserve.
Overall, there is an adequate supply of coins in the economy; however the slowed pace of circulation has reduced the inventory of coins available to retailers and other businesses in some areas of the country. The Fed is working with the U.S. Mint and others to find solutions for the shortage, including a temporary cap on the orders that depository institutions place for coins.
In addition, the Fed has formed the U.S. Coin Task Force to identify, implement, and promote actions to address coin circulation disruptions. As businesses reopen and the economy begins to recover, coin inventories are expected to normalize.
