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Is there a penny shortage? Why coins run short and what to do

4 min read · Updated Oct 9, 2026

Is there a penny shortage right now?

The final penny for circulation was struck at the Philadelphia Mint on November 12, 2025, Coin World reported the next day. For what that means for collectors and savers, see the end of the penny.

A May 2026 report from the Estes Valley Voice describes pennies as scarce across the country. It links this to the halt in production and notes that many pennies sit unused in jars and drawers. Treasury's FAQ says retailers should keep accepting pennies and giving penny change. None of these sources gives a count of how many pennies are missing.

Why are stores rounding to the nearest nickel?

Treasury's guidance says that when penny change is not available, businesses may round the final amount of a cash transaction to the nearest five-cent increment. The word "may" makes rounding a choice for the business, not a federal requirement.

The same guidance says states will approach the issue differently, based on their own considerations. The rules can therefore vary from place to place.

What caused the 2020 coin shortage?

In 2020, closures of businesses and banks slowed the movement of coins, and household coins sat unused. On June 11, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced a "strategic allocation of coin inventories." It limited coin orders and asked banks to order only the coins they expected to need in the near term.

The St. Louis Fed concluded that enough coins remained in the economy, but they were moving slowly. The problem was circulation, not a lack of coins.

The problem is not new. In 1999 the New York Fed reported penny shortages in some areas and linked the rising demand to people stockpiling pennies. The Fed asked banks to reduce barriers to coin deposits, which it said would discourage hoarding.

What can you do with your pennies?

• Spend them. Treasury says retailers should keep accepting pennies and providing penny change. During the 2020 shortage, the U.S. Mint asked consumers to use exact change, according to the St. Louis Fed.
• Deposit them. Treasury's FAQ says consumers may keep depositing pennies at their financial institutions. According to the St. Louis Fed, the Mint also asked people to deposit coins at banks in 2020.
• Count loose coins. Coin counting is one option. The Bank of Estes Park, for example, offers free coin counting to anyone, customer or not, according to the May 2026 report. Policies differ, so ask your bank before you go. To count pennies by the roll, see how many pennies are in a roll.
• Look first. Check older or unusual pennies before you spend or deposit a jar.

Penny Value is an Android app for now, so it isn't on the App Store. The values and checks on this page are free to use.Penny Value is an Android app. Open this page on your Android phone to check your own penny with a photo.

Related guides

• The end of the penny: what 2025 means for collectors
• How many pennies are in circulation? What the estimates say

Sources

1. Coin World, “Final cent for circulation struck at Philadelphia Mint” (accessed 2026-10-09)
2. U.S. Department of the Treasury, “Penny Production Cessation FAQs” (accessed 2026-10-09)
3. St. Louis Fed (Open Vault), “How Do Coins Get to Where They're Needed?” (accessed 2026-10-09)
4. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “Shortages of Pennies and Other Coins, Circular No. 11182” (accessed 2026-10-09)
5. Estes Valley Voice, “Down to the last penny: Bank of Estes Park offers free coin counting amid penny shortage” (accessed 2026-10-09)