The United States Mint lost $171 million in 2022 because it costs twice as much to produce pennies and nickels than their actual value.
Because of the rise in material prices, it costs more than 2.5 cents to make a penny; a nickel costs more than 10 cents to make. The cost to make dimes and quarters also has risen, but remains less than the value of those coins.
Inflation has exacerbated the problem, but even during low-inflation 2020, it cost 1.76 cents to make a penny and 7.42 cents to make a nickel.
