The United States Mint produced just over 1.88 billion coins for circulation in the first three months of this year, reflecting an uptick from last year’s first-quarter pace, which marked the slowest start since 2010.
In March, U.S. coin production rose to a five-month high, marking the second-highest monthly total over the past year, according to newly released U.S. Mint manufacturing data. Still, output remained below the 1-billion mark for a 19th consecutive month – a sharp contrast to earlier periods when surpassing that level was almost routine, including a stretch of eight straight months above it just before the current trend began.
The U.S. Mint struck 670.42 million coins for circulation in March, including cents, nickels, dimes, quarters, and half dollars, reflecting a 15.3% increase from February and just over twice the amount produced in March 2024 (up 101.5%).
Here’s how March’s production compares to previous months over the past year:
March 2024 to March 2025 Circulating Coin Production
| Month | Mintages | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | 670.42 M | 2 |
| February 2025 | 581.61 M | 5 |
| January 2025 | 633.56 M | 3 |
| December 2024 | 391.70 M | 9 |
| November 2024 | 602.90 M | 4 |
| October 2024 | 826.60 M | 1 |
| September 2024 | 486.00 M | 6 |
| August 2024 | 405.20 M | 7 |
| July 2024 | 235.20 M | 12 |
| June 2024 | 168.22 M | 13 |
| May 2024 | 396.08 M | 8 |
| April 2024 | 368.20 M | 11 |
| March 2024 | 332.70 M | 10 |
The U.S. Mint’s primary mission is to manufacture coins in response to public demand. It produces, sells, and delivers circulating coins to Federal Reserve Banks and their coin terminals, ensuring commercial banks and other financial institutions have the necessary supply.
Despite costing the Mint 3.69 cents to produce and distribute each penny, the Federal Reserve consistently orders more of them than any other denomination. In March, the Mint struck 328 million Lincoln cents, accounting for 48.9% of all circulating-quality coins produced for the month.
The future of the penny, however, is increasingly uncertain. On Feb. 9, President Trump ordered an end to its production, calling the move a step toward reducing "wasteful" government spending.
"For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents," Trump said in a Truth Social post. "This is so wasteful! I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies. Let’s rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it’s a penny at a time," Trump wrote.
In the first quarter, the Mint produced 923.4 million Lincoln cents, down from more than 1.01 billion in the same period of 2024.
Month-Over-Month
In month-over-month comparisons for coins commonly used by Americans, March production saw:
- 7.1% fewer Lincoln cents,
- 1% more Jefferson nickels,
- 16.3% fewer Roosevelt dimes, and
- 371.5% more quarters.
Mintages of Native American Dollars and Kennedy Halves
The U.S. Mint also produces other coins in circulating quality, including half dollars and dollars. While Native American $1 coins are no longer ordered by the Federal Reserve, they continue to be minted in circulating quality for collectors. The same applied to Kennedy half dollars until recent years – specifically in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 – when they were released into circulation.
In many years, the U.S. Mint strikes both denominations in January to meet the expected demand for the entire year. However, that has not been the case for Kennedy half dollars over the past four years, as the Federal Reserve unexpectedly ordered millions more for circulation – approximately 12 million in 2021, 7 million in 2022, 18 million in 2023, and 52 million in 2024 (fiscal, not calendar years).
It remains unclear whether any 2025 Kennedy half dollars will be released into general circulation. As of January, production figures showed 3.6 million struck at the Denver Mint and 5.8 million at the Philadelphia Mint, for a total of 9.4 million coins. February data added 2 million more from Denver, while March figures reflected another 2.4 million from Philadelphia. The new year-to-date total stands at 13.8 million coins, split between 5.6 million from Denver and 8.2 million from Philadelphia. By comparison, 2024 production reached 21.9 million from Denver and 15.7 million from Philadelphia, for a combined 37.6 million coins.
Mintage levels for 2025 Native American dollars were initially expected to remain mostly unchanged after January, when 1.12 million were struck in Denver and 1.26 million in Philadelphia, for a combined total of 2.38 million coins – slightly above the 2024 total of 2.24 million, which had equal splits of 1.12 million from each facility. However, February data showed an increase to 3.08 million coins following the addition of 700,000 more from the Philadelphia Mint. March figures revealed another 700,000 struck at each facility, bringing the cumulative total to 4.48 million.
Mintage levels for 2025 Native American dollars were initially expected to remain unchanged after January, when 1.12 million were struck in Denver and 1.26 million in Philadelphia, for a combined total of 2.38 million coins, a bit more than their 2025 million total of 2.24 million with equal splits of 1.12 million between plants. However, February data showed an increase to 3.08 million coins following the addition of 700,000 more from the Philadelphia Mint. March figures revealed another 700,000 struck at each facility, bringing the cumulative totals to 4.48 million, with new splits of 1.82 million from Denver and 2.66 million from Philadelphia.
On Jan. 28, the U.S. Mint began selling rolls, bags, and boxes of 2025 Native American dollars. Collectors can expect rolls and bags of circulating 2025 Kennedy half dollars to become available on May 6.
The following table details 2025 circulating coin mintages in March by production facility, denomination, and design.
U.S. Mint Circulating Coin Production in March 2025
| Denver | Philadelphia | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Cent | 168,000,000 | 160,000,000 | 328,000,000 |
| Jefferson Nickel | 40,320,000 | 34,600,000 | 74,920,000 |
| Roosevelt Dime | 73,500,000 | 24,000,000 | 97,500,000 |
| Quarters | 86,200,000 | 80,000,000 | 166,200,000 |
| Kennedy Half-Dollar | 0 | 2,400,000 | 2,400,000 |
| Native American $1 Coin | 700,000 | 700,000 | 1,400,000 |
| Total | 368,720,000 | 301,700,000 | 670,420,000 |
In total March production, the Denver Mint struck 368.72 million coins, while the Philadelphia Mint produced 301.7 million, bringing the combined output to 670.42 million coins.
First Quarter 2025
During the first quarter of this year, the Denver Mint has struck 920.58 million coins, and the Philadelphia Mint has made 965.01 million coins, bringing the total to 1,885,590,000 coins. This is 8.8% more than the 1,733,540,000 coins manufactured during the first first quarter of 2024, which marked the lowest quarterly level since the first quarter of 2010.
This next table lists coin production totals by denomination and by U.S. Mint facility:
YTD 2025 Circulating Coin Production by Denomination
| 1 ¢ | 5 ¢ | 10 ¢ | 25 ¢ | 50 ¢ | N.A. $1 | Total: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 413.4M | 112.56M | 201.5M | 185.7M | 5.6M | 1.82M | 920.58M |
| Philadelphia | 510M | 118.6M | 137M | 188.55M | 8.2M | 2.66M | 965.01M |
| Total | 923.4M | 231.16M | 338.5M | 374.25M | 13.8M | 4.48M | 1885.59M |
If the current production pace continues through December, the 2025 annual mintage would top 7.5 billion coins. For comparison, the U.S. Mint produced just over 5.6 billion coins for circulation in 2024, marking the lowest output since 2009.
Lastly, Mint data shows that 166.2 million quarters were struck in March, with 2.2 million more featuring Ida B. Wells and 164 million more honoring Juliette Gordon Low. The Wells and Low quarters are the 16th and 17th releases in the Mint’s 20-coin American Women Quarters™ series.
After factoring in March’s figures, quarters honoring Wells now total 99.5 million from Denver and 106.35 million from Philadelphia, for a combined 205.85 million. Quarters honoring Low stand at 86.2 million from Denver and 82.2 million from Philadelphia, totaling 168.4 million. The Mint began selling Ida B. Wells quarters in early February, with Juliette Gordon Low quarters released in late March. This year’s third of five designs, celebrating Dr. Vera Rubin, is scheduled for release this summer.
Anger management, positivity versus negativity, passive aggressive, intended, selfishness, disillusionment, over reaction, attack, context, delivery, tone, expectations, bullying, possessiveness, low road or high road, integrity, ethics, morals, freedom, liberty, happiness, gratitude, incitement, differences, Life Path, learning, growth, forgiveness, “walk a mile in another man’s shoes”, judgement, awareness, trauma, grieving, understanding, compassion, laughter, Love and Light, breath, breathe, in through the nose out through the mouth, awareness, present, hope, mindfulness, kindness, support, audience, all come to mind? Why? A spark can start a fire… Just a gentle reminder, life is too short, we’re all just visitors, living on borrowed time, freedom… Read more »
Well said!!
Hear! Hear! Cali!
Did I miss another kerfuffle or is the preemptive?
It’s still 2024 nickels to try to get.
I guess the Mint just ignores what Trump says. We could all learn from them.
lol.
Off topic. FYI…I was looking at Pinehurst Coins and they were selling 1oz 2025 proof gold eagles OGP for $300 less than the mint. I assume they are PR-69. Most dealers are the other way around when competing with the mint regarding the same product.
Definitely “Cherry Picked” East Coast, rejects that didn’t grade out at PF70, however still a significant discount nonetheless. Also, in case anyone gets a hankering for some 2025 W $50 American Gold Eagle action this weekend, you save $100 by buying those coins off the PH Coins website versus from them off of the “Bay”. Currently, $3,781.55 and $3,895.00 respectively. Still a major chunk of change no matter how you slice it! PS There is a reason why we don’t see any 2025 W $50 AGE’s in PF69 for sale. Just saying…
Yesterday they had the 2024 4 coin proof set for $6,200 OGP-COA. Significantly less than the mint and other dealers. Gone now. Regarding the price differential from the ‘bay’ vs pinehurst website is credit card price vs personal check price. Plus the ‘bay’ has fees. Stopped buying off eBay as they were charging me sales tax on large purchases that they shouldn’t.
Selling Au on the bay requires jacked up price$ as eBay takes a minimum of 15%, plus the same % of shipping and tax, which is never touched by the seller. A real scam, I know their doing is a favor, right and I got a bridge for sale I Richmond, CA
I’m not sure it is the E-Bay seller that is mis-categorizing the coin and causing the sales tax to be charged. Most of the time I don’t get charge tax consistent with my state’s laws, However a few times it comes out wrong. Anyway I wish there was a way to view the taxes before purchasing.
Vinnie, that is a good possibility. I recently asked a seller on the Bay to reclassify a coin because it was not supposed to have tax in my state, but the ebay category it was put in did add the tax. This coin transaction cost the seller a few more dollars to change the category, but they made the sale and I didn’t pay tax. Fees on the bay evidently vary based on the category/subcategory, and a lot of coin sellers will put coins in the lowest possible fee category. It never hurt to ask a seller about the category… Read more »
@sharks2th thanks for the cart tip. I think my state doesn’t charge tax on bullion and on legal tender (foreign included). I got the Year of the Horse Mule for a UK seller and got charged sales tax.
I think it is ridiculous they charge state sales tax for out of the country purchases. All of this goes back to the SD vs. Wayfair case. The internet was tax free until then.
Pretty amazing Antonio, the 2024 D nickel rolls are still being sold and bought for currently around $115-$150+/roll. With the 2024 P nickel rolls having a total of 96K more than Denver, they appear to only get $25-$35/roll. That is unless you want an entire box(50 rolls) of 2024 P nickels? In that case they can be had for as low as $6.50/roll currently. Per roll price on 2024 P is $1,250 or $325 for a whole box. Big spread…. I didn’t see any 2024 D boxes, however at the individual roll price, you’re looking at around $5,750! Im thinking… Read more »
Agree, go with the gold choice. You will never make your money back on the nickels.
Or a 1977 VW microbus for rebuilding
My dad had a 1977 VW bus. It was very painful to drive uphill. It would not do more than 50 mph when driving Cajon Pass, Tejon Pass, and the Conejo Grade. It has been to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Zion, Arches, Mt. Rainier, Yosemite and etc.
To make this post coin related, when passing through Las Vegas, I was excited to go through my parents slot machine leftovers to see if I could find any cool coins. Also in the early days they used Ikes instead of casino dollar tokens.
I think DOGE has confiscated 2025 coins. I got a few penny’s otherwise none, at bank, at Kroger, anywhere….
E1,
Maybe getting old won’t be too bad after all?…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fnMYChPzQJM
Now the algorithm came up with this one.
Cameron, Ai style. Getting old is so…a-ok.
Cheers…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/U6KCflks8do
The United States Mint reset possibilities… Option #1. Higher and Higher Prices, Lower and Lower Mintages, More and More Gimmicks, More New Customers and More Disgruntled Old Customers. Status quo. The Mint remains as it is, continuing its decline. Option #2: Significant mint price increases. Many Mint offerings’ prices increase for profitability, or are eliminated. Some Mints that produce non-circulating coinage may be shut down and sold, but the numismatic side remains. Option #3. (My choice). Complete elimination of the numismatic side of the Mint. Issues include Mints producing both circulating and non-circulating coins. Over the past 10 fiscal years,… Read more »
Cag: I highly doubt a complete numismatic shutdown…..back to basics is my expectation….Proof sets, Mint sets….with Congress, I dont hold out hope to curtail non or minimal circulating series…..the upcoming DC comics coins are a farce in my opinion.
HarryB,
Proof sets and Mint sets are the primary sources of financial losses. While it is possible to mitigate these losses, a revision in pricing will be necessary.
It’s unlikely the administration will eliminate the penny while allowing more losses in numismatic products.
New Customers that’s rich Cag. The sales # reveal the shrinking base and little to restock the base. Except for FHG not many new customers. Superman like the baseball, basketball and breast cancer coins will bomb….option #4, eliminate middlemen and APs sell bullion direct 1z Au or Roll of ASE minimum. All the workers who cant be utilized w the drop I other sales, go to the bullion division. MEZAK and AMPEx poop about it….. parasites
Not a single patriotic promotional peep from the Mint that today April 19 marks 250 years since British regular troops marched from Boston to Lexington and Concord to seize a cache of colonial weapons. Local colonial militias engaged the British troops marking the start of the American revolution.
We’ll see what happens with next year’s coins.
The 100 year old commem coin from the Mint is pretty nice.
David Hall @ PCGS:
“This event…the “shot heard round the world” at Lexington-Concord in 1775 that signaled the start of the American Revolution…certainly was a legitimate event to commemorate. A total of 162,099 coins were minted. At the initial festivities in April, 1925, there were approximately 60,000 coins sold as souvenirs at $1.00 per coin. Then the coins were sold throughout New England and, to a lesser extent, the rest of the United States….”
“By the rude bridge that arched the flood/Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled/Here once the embattled farmers stood/And fired the shot heard round the world.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1837
Nice Rick, Mint busy coming up with more ways to overcharge and take our $$$$
Nice bit of coin history Rick, thanks for sharing.
I have that one. It was one of the less expensive 50c commemoratives. Still hoping to get the Old Spanish Trail commemorative.
I have a picture for the Minuteman Statue too.
I also took a picture of the Old North Bridge. I attended a conference in Waltham, MA in 2019 and took a detour. My first time there was April 16. 2014. I was 11 years and 3 days too early for the 250th year commemoration.
I think the Mint has more recent battles in mind at present.
The Bicentennial was a lot more fun. The USPS printing stamps for many events leading to 1776 and after. The Freedom Train was touring the country. Well I checked on the USPS website and the did release a set for the Battlefields of the American Revolution.
hmmm so much for that cent-discontinuation talk… ok yeah 7.1% less is a start, but that’s still about 92.9% more than it ought to be.
Amen, brother! Add the nickel to that comment and I’ll stand up and shout out “CAN I GET SOME AMENS TO THAT??”
Indeed, what can you buy for a cent? A single M&M costs more than a cent, jelly beans cost more than 3 cents each as do Pringles.
Some people point out that sales tax makes prices result in odd cents. Lets just round off the tax to the closest circulating coin in cash sales
VinnyC, since you are pondering my inspiration for posting the above? Without trashing this thread or one another, let’s just say, I took my inspiration from an observation of a little birdie. Actually it was a majestic eagle and one hard landing recently, as it attempted to slay its prey…. Similar to one alluding to being able to tell that, their commercial airline pilot was in the Navy, comparing the hard landing to a “bowling ball” dropping out of the sky. LOL For now, it appears that the hatchet has been removed and buried in a swift flowing stream, under… Read more »
1975 Wow….. the end of High School for me….
50y…. If silver popped some of those 40% bicentennial proof sets would have better value.
Ag in sympathy to Au@$100 up 33c….Au drops a tad and silver gives it all up basically..As Cag pronounces not a good sign, silver a real,laggard….need buyers
Wont’t you help a silver player kid$….❓?
Today’s “Goldbugs” versus “Silverites”
.
Is their ANY item that you would not purchase or drive to another store to buy if it were nine cents more? Let alone considering that the sum total of your purchases would be rounded up to the higher dime? All we need to do is make final sales price a SINGLE DIGIT DECIMAL SYSTEM! Just think of all the money, materials and labor which could be put to use for meaningful purposes. MAKE THE DIME PRIME! Can of Coke $1.49 becomes $1.5 Gallon of gas $3.24 becomes $3.3 A rib-eye steak $17.22 becomes $17.3. Your bill at Lowes was… Read more »
Don’t think for a second that governments, state and local won’t also do the same with taxes DaveSWFL? 7.25% becomes 10%, 7.5% becomes 10%, 7.75% becomes 10% and so on…. eBay 15% becomes 20%… AND Federal, YIKES, as they won’t be rounding down! 12% becomes 20%, 22% and 24% becomes 30%, 32% and 35% become 40% and so on: On second thought, we’ll cut you all a break, 37% becomes 30%! We got your back America! Not saying your idea doesn’t make “cents”, just how many “‘cents” are we willing to give up and who does this all make the… Read more »
I prefer rounding DOWN when appropriate, otherwise somebody making some trouble Lucy….
So I went to my local used book store this afternoon (looking for something else entirely), and decided to try their “Hobbies” section for coin books. Lo & behold, I found a very nice copy of the first of Whitman’s 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins. Yes, I know it’s out of date (copyright 2011), but here’s the part I really love…Price was $2.00! And then I discover that I actually have one of the coins in their list, #9 was the 1999-S Silver Delaware quarter from the first of the 50 states sets. I just completed my set of those… Read more »
I wish I sold all my 1990 Ag proof sets. Too many still, sold a few at local,show $325 each! Lucky to get $100, at least I did take a few sovereigns in payment. 5hey were like $48……way back when
Where is the Wayback machine when. I need it
Uh 1999. Duh
Sam-I-Am, congrats on such a cool score at an amazing price! Also, awesome job on finishing off your Statehood silver quarter collection! Pretty neat that your copy ranks a coin you own collection, at number 9 in the 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins! Again, congratulations!
Thanks, Cali! Maybe we can meet up at the upcoming show you found in NC!
Gold is firing on all cylinders again tonight.
I predict that Cag will report that GLD has closed at a new high price per share tomorrow……
Gold:Silver current ratio 104:1
Largest ratio since Covid in (5/15/2020)
GLD started trading November 18, 2004.
Current move in GLD ($316.00 +$9.88) is the 2nd largest price increase in 20+ years.
Wow! 105.76:1, versus 83.60:1 just one short year ago, when I said: “Gold and silver have been up significantly so far in 2024. Gold on January 1, 2024 was $2,063, and now @ $2,399 @ 11:08 MST 4/19/24. Ag was $23.86 January 1, 2024, now @ $28.67. Ag is up 20.16% and Au is up 16.29%, on the year so far. (83.60:1, Ag to Au ratio)” Also, to compare circulating coin production of 2024 and the “First Quarter” results to this 2025 “First Quarter” report, see below link titled: “First Quarter 2024 Sees U.S. Mint’s Coin Production Plummet to 1.73… Read more »
I believe we are in a recession and silver will underperform gold until the recession is over or the market an see the light of day for improving economy. when that happens (or a blowoff top in gold) I will be looking to buy SLV calls and maybe trade some gold bullion for silver bullion. Silver ALWAYS lags behind gold in a recession, IMO
Silver definitely has upside potential. The gold/silver ratio gets smashed with silver going up just $20 bucks. Plus with Russia adding silver to its reserves and China buying raw silver ore directly from miners things could get interesting. Or not. Time will tell.
Part of the problem is the silver market (futures) is comparatively small and the big banks can easily control it (until they can’t!)
GLD just Closed at Another All Time Closing High.
For the 23rd time this Year.
GLD closed at $315.59 (24×5 trading may cause price variation).
Another day of a weaker dollar, higher gold prices, higher bond yields and lower stocks.
Rich,
Two of those, the administration wants to happen. One of those, the administration doesn’t want to happen, but can live with. One of those, the administration really really doesn’t want to happen…
John Q, your Brick House comment, inspired me(shiny ball, LOL) to look at more music information. I was surprised to find out the Commodores “Brick House” topped out at a number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. It also did not make the Billboard Top 100 year end list. However their song “Easy” finished the year at 33. Then I reminisced over 1977-1980 year end Billboard Top 100 charts. Fleeting glimpses of elementary school, roller skating at the local roller rink and LL Baseball came to mind. Then I saw “Prince”’s name pop up. I then thought of recent… Read more »
Not only do I collect coins, but I also collect popular music. I have every #1 album from 1980-2020 and every (available) #1 single from 1960 to 2020. I had a subscription to Billboard for decades.
Whoa!
You never cease to amaze, REB.
I’m an 80’s guy when it comes down to my preference in music. Nothing like it…
I recognize that packaging, Rick. There’s a funny story attached to that album. I started my #1 album collection at the beginning of 1980 during my sophomore year in college. The first two albums, Donna Summer’s “On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II” and the Bee Gees’ “Greatest”, were double albums that spent one week at #1. On week #3, ANOTHER double album hit #1. I wondered how I was going to sustain this new collection. Three weeks … three double albums … on a college student’s finances … can I do this? Well, the third #1 was… Read more »
Great story, great album, great decade REB. Thanks for sharing.
I’ll check out Browne’s best cut on Side Two.✓
PS: I could picture you with a superb 2 Channel setup from McIntosh Audio with a high-end cartridge for the vinyl, just me.
For a time I was into the digital delight of high bitrate, uncompressed Multichannel PCM 5.1 music, via DVD Audio and SACD disc formats. Good stuff while it lasted.
At one time, I was excited about the prospect of a commercially affordable laser stylus vinyl record player. It was supposed to read deeper into the groove to provide a fuller, more artist-intended, sound. The technology was headed to stores in the early 80s. I’m still waiting.
If I were a conspiracy theorist, I’d say the rush to cassette and later to CD killed vinyl and the new vinyl record player. Though my CD collection is vast, I still prefer the sound of vinyl.
I agree with Rick, Reb and that’s an amazingly cool collection you’ve acquired over the years! Although I’m sure you love all of them, however are you possibly able to narrow down the top 3-5, that are your favorites? Ones that I’m thinking would be up there, if they are in that list of “Tops” would be Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Eagles, and I’ll stop here as there are so many great ones and I can’t begin to narrow down to only 3 or 5! LOL.
Cali, it’s WAY too hard to narrow down choices. My musical tastes run the gamut of genres. Rock to country to classical to soul to jazz to bluegrass to dance to musical theater to … well … almost anything. Admittedly, rap isn’t one of my favorites, though I’ve listened to plenty of rap albums. I do like some of the wordplay there, but I find the lack of melody and harmonics makes it difficult to maintain my interest. I frequently prefer songs over albums and album cuts over hit singles. A mood will often guide what I like at any… Read more »
A gold medal of historic proportions to be offered up through Stack’s Bowers! “STACK’S BOWERS GALLERIES ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER PUBLIC APPEARANCE AND OFFERING OF A GOLD 1945 FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT FOURTH INAUGURAL MEDAL” 10 were originally made, with 3 examples eventually ending up in the hands/museum at the FDR Presidential Library . Others(6) for the most part went to notable World leaders such as Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin. The one being auctioned was number 8 listed, having an association or attribution of “Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross: acquired as a member of the 1945 Inaugural Medal Committee.”, and the example… Read more »
Interesting history regarding this medal. Disappointed in the ship art on the reverse. For all the fuss to make these medals, I would like something a little more artistic such as the Libertas Americana medals. John Paul Jones has a beautiful ship on his.
So I figured out the rounding algorithm for getting rid of both the penny and nickel. The merchant always has to round down. This gives the consumer the best deal and the merchant can maneuver prices to minimize the damage.
Oh, just think of the savings for both the consumer and the taxpayer (mint related). Please, please wake up American people and politicians (are they really people?)