Change You Can Believe In: US Mint Urges Public to Spend Coins in Bid to End Shortages

The United States Mint is asking if the public could spare some change by urging people to go out and spend it amid a national coin shortage brought on by the COVID-19 crisis

The Mint has been closed to the public for months amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, and in an effort to minimize contact and due to fear of spreading the virus using physical currency, more people in the United States have been using credit cards and other cashless payment options, which has caused a shortage of quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies in some places.

Last week, the Mint, which is part of the Treasury Department, put out a statement pleading for people to start spending their change to help increase circulation and limit the shortage.

“We ask that the American public start spending their coins, depositing them, or exchanging them for currency at financial institutions or taking them to a coin redemption kiosk,” the Mint added.

Numerous businesses are encouraging customers to pay with exact change, mostly because they can’t make change with the coins they have on hand. Multiple 7-Eleven convenience stores are running similar promotions, offering free Slurpees to people willing to trade $5 in coins for $5 in paper currency, reported USA Today. 

Sourse: sputniknews.com