The pace of minting U.S. coins for circulation slowed for a second straight year, final 2022 production figures from the United States Mint show.
U.S. minting facilities shipped just over 13.6 billion coins to Federal Reserve Banks for circulation release during the calendar year, marking drops of 6% from the nearly 14.5 billion coins struck in 2021 and 7.8% from the more than 14.7 billion coins made in 2020 when production ramped up again to alleviate coin circulation issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here is a summary of U.S. coin production totals in 2022 compared to those from 2021:
US Mint Annual Coin Production (2022 vs 2021)
| Year 2021 | Year 2022 | 2022 Unit Gain / Loss | 2022 % Gain / Loss | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cents | 7,908,620,000 | 6,359,600,000 | -1,549,020,000 | -19.6% |
| Nickels | 1,570,780,000 | 1,547,520,000 | -23,260,000 | -1.5% |
| Dimes | 2,830,250,000 | 3,134,000,000 | 303,750,000 | 10.7% |
| Quarters | 2,168,200,000 | 2,567,600,000 | 399,400,000 | 18.4% |
| Half Dollars | 13,100,000 | 9,700,000 | -3,400,000 | -26.0% |
| Native American $1 | 2,520,000 | 1,960,000 | -560,000 | -22.2% |
| Total | 14,493,470,000 | 13,620,380,000 | -873,090,000 | -6.0% |
The U.S. Mint’s main mission is to manufacture coins based on the nation’s demand and then transport them to Federal Reserve Banks and their coin terminals for distribution into circulation.
Minting facilities in Philadelphia and Denver are tasked with manufacturing all U.S. coins for commerce. In 2022, the Philadelphia Mint produced 6,730,500,000 coins while the Denver Mint made 6,889,880,000 coins.
6.3 Billion Cents in 2022
Of note, 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 over 6.3 billion cents struck last year represents 46.7% of the combined production total for 2022. While a lot, this is well lower than in past years. For example, in 2021, the Mint manufactured over 7.9 billion cents for 54.6% of all coins minted for circulation.
Mintages of Native American $1 Coins & Kennedy Half Dollars
Attesting to their lower mintage totals as compared to other coins, Native American dollars are no longer ordered by the Federal Reserve for circulation, but they are still made in circulating quality for coin collector products. The same is true, or was until 2021 and 2022, for Kennedy half-dollars.
Typically, in January, the U.S. Mint strikes both denominations to the expected amounts needed for the entire year. That remained the case for Native American dollars but not for Kennedy halves, which saw their mintages increase in several months last year (January, May and June) and in 2021 (February, March, April, May and August).
Published mintages of 2022 Native American dollars show 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 last 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. Unchanged since, 2022 half dollar mintages ended at 4.9 million from Denver and 4.8 million from Philadelphia for a total of 9.7 million. In 2021, the half dollar mintages closed with a mix of 7.7 million from Denver and 5.4 million from Philadelphia for a combined 13.1 million.
First America Women Quarter Mintages
2022 was the inaugural year for the U.S. Mint’s four-year series of quarters celebrating the contributions of notable women who have shaped American history.
Honorees for the year include Maya Angelou, Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, Nina Otero-Warren and Anna May Wong. Each features a unique design with:
- 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.)
- the 2022 Nina Otero-Warren quarter which started circulating mid-August. (The Mint started selling collectible Nina Otero-Warren quarters in rolls and bags on Aug 16.)
- the 2022 Anna May Wong quarter which started circulating Oct. 24. (The Mint started selling collectible Anna May Wong quarters in rolls and bags on Oct. 25.)
For the first time, Mint data revealed mintages for the Anna May Wong quarter. They are the second lowest in the series to date.
This next table shows 2022 circulating coin mintages by production facility, denomination, and design.
2022 Circulating Coin Production by Design
| Denver | Philadelphia | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Cent | 3,230,400,000 | 3,129,200,000 | 6,359,600,000 |
| Jefferson Nickel | 777,600,000 | 769,920,000 | 1,547,520,000 |
| Roosevelt Dime | 1,583,000,000 | 1,551,000,000 | 3,134,000,000 |
| 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 | 296,800,000 | 310,000,000 | 606,800,000 |
| Nina Otero-Warren Quarter | 219,200,000 | 225,000,000 | 444,200,000 |
| Anna May Wong Quarter | 240,800,000 | 226,800,000 | 467,600,000 |
| Kennedy Half-Dollar | 4,900,000 | 4,800,000 | 9,700,000 |
| Native American $1 Coin | 980,000 | 980,000 | 1,960,000 |
| Total | 6,889,880,000 | 6,730,500,000 | 13,620,380,000 |
Coin Production in December 2022
Normally, December is a slower production month as the U.S. Mint adjusts their tooling for the upcoming year’s coins. That has not really been the case in the last three Decembers with amounts of 846.5 million coins most recently, 953.37 million coins in December 2021, and 903.50 million coins in December 2020.
More typical Decembers are represented in years 2011 to 2019, for example, with their totals of 431.78 million, 245.34 million, 285.96 million, 878.84 million, 707.79 million, 696.68 million, 762.86 million, 560.64 million, and 400.88 million.
Here’s how last month compares against others in the past year:
December 2021 to December 2022 Circulating Coin Production
| Month | Mintages | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| December 2022 | 846.50 M | 13 |
| November 2022 | 906.00 M | 12 |
| October 2022 | 1,177.14 M | 6 |
| September 2022 | 1,003.72 M | 9 |
| August 2022 | 948.06 M | 11 |
| July 2022 | 1,100.62 M | 8 |
| June 2022 | 1,141.60 M | 7 |
| May 2022 | 1,255.32 M | 4 |
| April 2022 | 1,278.88 M | 2 |
| March 2022 | 1,452.58 M | 1 |
| February 2022 | 1,260.12 M | 3 |
| January 2022 | 1,249.84 M | 5 |
| December 2021 | 953.37 M | 10 |
This last table shows productions totals by denomination for December:
US Mint Circulating Coin Production in December 2022
| Denomination | Denver | Philadelphia | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Cents | 182,000,000 | 114,000,000 | 296,000,000 |
| Jefferson Nickels | 45,360,000 | 55,440,000 | 100,800,000 |
| Roosevelt Dimes | 123,500,000 | 139,000,000 | 262,500,000 |
| Quarters | 100,200,000 | 87,000,000 | 187,200,000 |
| Kennedy Half Dollars | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Native American $1s | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 451,060,000 | 395,440,000 | 846,500,000 |
And yet I hear there are still coin shortages in parts of the country.
Native American Dollar design for 2024.
I just recently noticed that, too. I had no idea they were minting their own coinage until just a few weeks ago. I assume someone else (maybe even the US Mint) is actually minting the coins for them. It would be cool if they had their own Mint. Imagine if you had to exchange your dollars for Native American coinage when you spend money at their casinos or shops. It would really make it feel like they are a sovereign nation. We say they are a sovereign nation but we sure do still exert a lot of control over their… Read more »
I didn’t realize how many varieties of these coins there are for the different nations, even in the area where I live. Maybe I should commission a coin for the Nation of Me?
Proposed Innovation Dollar designs for 2024.
That’s one small step for a man. One giant leap for mankind.
I have a 1975 dime no mint mark it has kept its dark shine for years I found it when I was little in 1976 I kept it for good luck along with a 1968 dime
Dimes minted in Philadelphia didn’t have mint marks until 1980. You can google it, to see what the value is. Same with the 1968 dime.
I am collecting a lot of coins from any willing to give them for a project. All before the year 2000. I’ve got so many coins now in pikes by year and mint add ah in order with no years missing since 1960 to 1999 save buf one. For my whole life, I’ve always looked for coins from my year of birth and I’ve never found a single one. After a year of not finding one, i began to get obsessed with it. But I’ve found every year of all my family members from my dad61 mom62 sister82 and brother84,… Read more »
… and The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band wins Album of the Year (the first rock LP to receive the award)
The Cavern
And don’t forget, Richard Nixon was elected that year. “I am not a crook.”
I remember that was the year the anti war demonstrations started to take place. Things really began to change in ’68. I still remember the assassinations of MLK and Bobbie Kennedy. It was a sad time. What was the country headed to? We survived and even survived The Donald and the January 6th fiasco. We’ll survive the rise and fall of precious metal prices as well.
Spiro Agnew? Anti-Agnew rally? Where I met my now ex-wife? Truly a dark day.
pleeeeeeeeeeeeze stop making cents and make quarters instead. if we are going to have a coin shortage, better it be short cents than quarters.
We could be like Canada, five cents, 10 cents, 25 cents and polymer notes. Ah but Canada if more liberal and progressive than the U.S. is.
Thanks Major D, needed to watch that. So agree with you.