What do people do with spare cash, particularly coins? That is the perennial question asked by central banks, mints, and those involved in ensuring that cash continues to circulate effectively. Although there is a phenomenal amount of cash in circulation, there is often a gap between circulation/production figures and availability of certain denominations on the street. This is arguably a greater issue with lower denominations and therefore coins specifically, and it is unsurprising that companies are noticing the issue and developing systems to gather spare cash and get it back into circulation. Enter Changebox and its founder and CEO, Chase Goggans.

Production of the humble penny (one cent coin), long a staple of US American currency, officially ceased last year. This seems to have created an unexpected set of challenges for businesses, banks, and consumers across the United States. While pennies remain legal tender and existing coins will continue to circulate, access to them has already become an issue, prompting retailers to adopt new practices and the US Treasury to issue guidance.

Registration is now open for The Coin Conference 2026, which is scheduled to take place in Budapest, Hungary, from 28-30 September. The main programme for the event is currently being finalised and is set to be released soon. In the meantime, the two pre-conference workshops have now been announced.

Bullion International Group (BIG), part of MKS PAMP GROUP, has signed a binding agreement to acquire a majority stake in SOLIT. The acquisition marks a new step in BIG’s international growth strategy, expanding its European footprint.

In the Chinese conception of time, Chinese New Year is a vital juncture for new beginnings and new prospects, while the Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs serve as cultural markers of time cycles. Among the zodiac animals, the fire horse symbolises vitality, freedom, reliability, progress, and success. The 2026 circulating commemorative coin for the Year of the Horse marks the final issue of the second series of Chinese New Year commemorative circulating coins.

The issue of estimated coin life has been a subject of speculation for a long time. There are limited data and systematic studies about the life of coins. Publicly available information from world mints suggests that coins could remain in circulation for at least 25 or 30 years. There are other sources suggesting that coins could last in circulation much longer and their lifetime could even exceed 50 years.

As debates continue about the future of money, one institution consistently aware of and exploring the crossroads of cash, digital currency, and economic sovereignty is Monnaie de Paris. At the recent World Money Fair in Berlin, Coin & Mint News™ spoke to its CEO, Marc Schwartz, about the role of cash in an increasingly digital world, the Mint’s continuing success, and the launch of several new programmes in 2026.

A few recent personnel updates from Osborne Coinage, the Lithuanian Mint, and the Royal Canadian Mint.

The recent World Money Fair, held annually in Berlin at the end of January and beginning of February, is typically titled ‘the largest coin fair in the world’. This year’s iteration welcomed 320 exhibitors to the three day event, including mints and national banks from around 50 countries.

In August 2024, Global Coin Solutions incorporated its first overseas subsidiary office in Tokyo. Nearly 18 months after the company’s expansion into the heart of Asia’s coin market, Coin & Mint News™ caught up with founder and President, Scott Hutchings, about its development, the complexities of global coin repatriation, and the growing social impact of its charitable initiatives.

When ensuring payment efficiency, the goal is to minimise the number of coins and notes required to make and settle a payment. There are many ways to achieve this. Perhaps the simplest methodology to achieve an optimal currency structure for coins and banknotes is the principle of least effort, ie. the settlement of cash transactions using, on average, as few coins and/or banknotes as possible.

The International Currency Association (ICA) and the International Mint Industry Association (IMIA) have announced that they will merge to become a combined industry association. The two organisations will join forces under the ICA umbrella, aiming to unite the global currency industry more closely and strengthen the collective voice for cash, including both banknotes and coins.

The Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) has secured a new multi-year contract with the Central Bank of Ireland to mint all Irish collector coins and, from May 2026, €2 commemorative coins celebrating Irish culture and heritage. This agreement represents a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between RDM and several European central banks.