The market for circulating coins and the industry that supplies them are both in a state of change. Cash in circulation continues to grow, but production volumes have fallen sharply in many countries and some suppliers are exiting the market.

In the meantime, coin shortages – mainly through hoarding and inefficient circulation – persist. At the same time, demands for sustainability in the production and circulation of coins is growing, adding further pressures, but also opportunities. What lies behind these apparently contradictory trends and, importantly, what do they mean both for those that manage circulation coin and those that supply it? This presentation will look at some of the key factors driving (or putting the brakes) on circulation coins over the last five years or so, thereby setting the scene for the topics and discussions that will make up the following days of the Coin Conference.