Where have all the coins gone?

[GTRS Fiero]

Is there a shortage of coins there?  Most everywhere, here, there are no coins.  I could turn in the loose change I've collected, over the years, but that'd be a drop in the bucket.

[Raydar]

The story that I've heard is that people are staying home, and not going out and buying stuff, in retail stores.
The ones that are going out and buying, are using plastic, because cash is, you know, "germy".
People are not tendering coins, so there are none from that source to be used as change.
On top of that, the mint is supposedly shut down, or very limited, due to COVID.

Sounds reasonable to me. (Baaaaah!)

Sorry. Not buying the conspiracy theories.

[GTRS Fiero]

Lots of the vending machines aren't being serviced.  In theory, they are full of coins.

Not pushing conspiracy theories.

[Raydar]

...
Not pushing conspiracy theories.

Didn't mean to imply that, at all. Just that so many others are.

[GTRS Fiero]

When I pay cash, I only use coins for things that only take coins, like tolls.  Speaking of which, maybe those should be emptied?

[Fierofool]

A short while ago, I heard some talk about doing away with coins.  Last year or so.  Merchants were to adjust their prices so that they rounded out to even dollar amounts, including taxes.  The stated reason was that it cost more to mint the coins than what they were worth, face value. 

As for paper money, it should cost the same to print a $100 bill as does a $1.00 bill. 

There are also those who speak of the eventual transition to a cashless world where everything is done through some form of electronic means.  EBT transfers, credit or debit cards.  Most times now when I write a check, they give it back to me after I sign their little pad and they convert my check to an electronic bank transfer.  So, all my monetary transactions are recorded, tracked and available to any government agency that properly requests them.  Even what I purchase is recorded, judging by the emails I get surveying me about the product I just bought. 

[GTRS Fiero]

I do not sign up for that stuff.  No emailed receipts.

I like being able to pay in cash.  Many vendors no longer accept checks.

The purpose of electronic only is to track you and control your money.  Not promoting conspiracy theories, but you can look it up.  Gold is good.

[MikeMac]

  Most times now when I write a check, they give it back to me after I sign their little pad and they convert my check to an electronic bank transfer.

Writing a check? Is that where you write numbers and stuff down on the paper in that little book thingy?

[HarryT]

I had a jar with an electronic counter on top.  When I heard stores were looking for change I took it to the local Ingles  yesterday as they had a coin machine.  I asked the manager if I should use the coin machine or would they want the change.   He said  not to put it in the machine as they needed it.  The readout on top of the jar said $143.26.  They counted it by hand and agreed with the meter.  I was glad I could help as the jar was nearly full anyway.
Harry

[GTRS Fiero]

One of my uncles had a barrel he used to hold his loose change.  Every night, he tossed his loose change into that barrel.  When his daughter was ready for college, my uncle turned in that change, which was something over $30K.

I donxt have that much, but have several times turned in more than $200.  Dunno how much I have, this time.