US Mint reducing production as quarter collecting declines

US coin output fell by 30% last year to the lowest level in 10 years as the economy struggled.  In 2008 the US Mint produced a mere 10.1 billion coins.  Reduced demand from coin collectors is partly to blame:  the Mint cites diminishing consumer interest in collecting the quarters issued for each of the 50 states.  However the struggling economy is also playing a part since fewer cash register transactions mean less need to provide change.  Increasing use of debit and credit cards may also be contributing to a long term decline in the number of coins produced.

The Denver Mint accounts for just over half of US coin production with the rest from Philadelphia.