This year has seen much change that has impacted world of coins – including a new monarch in King Charles III, the closure of mints and diversification of others, and the issue of new coins to replace those a decade or so old – and yet much remains the same. Three key trends were remarked upon by Coin & Mint News™ last year – environmental sustainability, effective circulation, and industry collaboration – and these only continue to grow in importance.
Mints and industry actors continue to look at, and launch programmes to, improve the way they produce coins and other numismatic products more sustainably, launch new services to increase the efficacy of coin distribution, and work in partnership to consider new processes and develop new technologies.
Next year will again likely see further development of the above, particularly as several countries continue to update their coinage in terms of design and security, but in the meantime, we have summarised this year’s news below.
The first coin of 2024 is out of this world as the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) collaborates with the Australian Space Agency; Royal Joh Enschedé produces a gold banknote; Monnaie de Paris to remake euro coins following European Commission rejection; US Mint releases Harriet Tubman coins and begins penultimate year of the American Women Quarters (AWQ) Program; Belgium commemorates its EU Council Presidency role; new leadership for the Mint Directors Association and Bavarian State Mint; US coin production falls to pre-pandemic levels; The Royal Mint (TRM) becomes a member of the SBMA; Heimerle + Meule Group acquires Reischauer and Royal United Mint; Freiberger EuroMetall acquires the Mint of Finland’s blanks business.
Paris Games medals unveiled, with Monnaie de Paris to produce; RCM releases Extraordinarily High Relief coins to celebrate the Year of the Dragon; Reserve Bank of New Zealand to launch community cash trials; all designs approved for new Caribbean guilder coins; Germany establishes National Cash Forum; Malta celebrates centuries-old Carnival; Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) launches ‘good-cause’ coin issue with the Dutch Hartstichting (Heart) Foundation; Estonia’s coin issue down and returns soar, impacted by its coin collection campaign; demand for US circulating coins falls in 2023; Poland flies to the future with UFO flying coin; TRM and US Mint collaborate on Britannia and Liberty commemoratives; RAM launches new platform for online sales.
New circulating coins for France; Casa da Moeda do Brasil celebrates 330th anniversary with a commemorative medal featuring AR technology; Belgium approves cash protection legislation; Perth Mint joins Mint Directors Association and Coiniverse; Reserve Bank of New Zealand confirms use of King Charles III Commonwealth Effigy on circulating and commemorative coins; RCM implements Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) solution for end-to-end tracing and certification of gold provenance; World Money Fair Technical Forum celebrates 20th anniversary.
TRM pulls out of export business for circulating coins; Spanish police bust €2 counterfeiting ring; Zimbabwe rolls out new gold-backed currency, the ZiG (Zimbabwe Gold); Mint of Poland reports growth at every level; Monnaie de Paris reports growing activity and a confirmed recovery; INCM commemorates halfcentury of Carnation Revolution; Reserve Bank of India (RBI) marks 90 years of establishment; Poland marks centenary of national currency; RDM celebrates 75 Years of NATO and honours those saving lives at sea.
US considers scrapping mutilated coin programme; RCM reports lower sales and profit for 2023; Coiniverse continues its expansion by enabling purchasing ability, utilising an NFT-based verification solution, and launching a new eCommerce Partnership whilst PAMP becomes a member; much change at Swissmint as it launches a new website, online shop, and layout for its customer magazine.
TRM plans expansion in the United States via exclusive distribution deal with RARCOA and collaboration with the US Mint; MKS PAMP opens new mint in Florida; Croatian Mint becomes World Record holder with world’s smallest coin; Mozambique issues new coin series; Jamaica discontinues exchange of nonUS dollar foreign coins; European mints commemorate 80 years since D-Day; coin issuance drops in Ireland whilst those in circulation increase in India; image-mining techniques and machine learning algorithms enable greater detection of counterfeit coins; France celebrates hosting the Summer Games; Bahamas issues first painted coin.
No new coins for the UK as Treasury suspends orders to TRM; new CEOs announced for MKS PAMP and Schuler; Heimerle + Meule Group rebrands as HM Precious Metals; Is Artificial Intelligence the Future of Minting?; Uganda looks to gold for currency support; Jersey considers payment choice; TRM reports on diversification strategy and coin demand, noting a loss.
Mint of Finland to close in 2025, bringing to an end a 160 year-old business; Global Coin Solutions expands to the AsiaPacific; United States wins top Coin of the Year award; TRM officially launches new precious metals recovery factory; millions of unwanted UK copper coins stored in warehouses; Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten unveils designs for new Caribbean guilder coins; new UK coins continue to enter circulation, with £1 bee coin the second to enter following the 50p salmon coin; RAM commemorates 50th anniversary of the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee; Malta commemorates UN Security Council seat.
US permanently abolishes Mutilated Coin Redemption Program; Belgium latest to experience coin shortage; RAM reopens public facilities following $6 million refurbishment; Poland and India tops gold acquisition list; US Mint notes short-term increase in coin production; Mauquoy Token Company acquires International Token Distributors; Reconnaissance International launches new industry reference glossary; Perth Mint releases rare pink diamond coin; RDM commemorates the Airborne March; RCM releases third single mine bullion coin.
RDM signs multi-year agreement to produce Finnish circulation and commemorative coins; Estonia drops lowest denomination coins; Directory of Circulating Coins published; new 50p coin becomes rarest in circulation; final Caribbean guilder coins struck; closure queries surround the Argentine Mint; Sesami Cash Management acquires the Consillion Group; Czech Mint produces f irst official joint licensed coloured issue of Czech lion; ABC Mint launches Untamed Landscapes collection.
An active industry comes together at The Coin Conference 2024; Ukraine to rename ‘kopiyka’ coins to ‘shah’; Croatian Mint joins Coiniverse; Argentine Mint set for restructure; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Banque de France sign MOU on currency management; RBI revamps currency management as circulating coinage continues to grow; UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Falkland Islands, ECCU update monarch’s effigy on their coins; RCM launches 2024 Opulence Collection; US Mint releases final 2024 AWQ.
US coin production falls dramatically; Monnaie de Paris and US Mint collaborate on new collection; Kazakhstan innovates with a copper coin insert; US Mint unveils final AWQ designs for 2025; cash usage continues to rise in the UK; Russia to cease issuing one ruble coins; Greece returns coin hoard to Türkiye; RDM boosts its capabilities with bullion and launch of Helsinki Mint for Finland; new leadership for MKS PAMP Group.
