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Production Cost Analysis with Circulating Metal
Commodity Metal Prices

United States Mint
Department of the Treasury

December 2014

As America’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the efficient and effective production and
distribution of coinage is the Mint’s highest priority.
We mint and issue circulating coins to the Federal Reserve Banks (FRB) in quantities to support their
service to commercial banks and other financial institutions. These financial institutions then meet the
coinage needs of retailers and the public. The Mint recognizes revenue from the sale of circulating coins
at face value when they are shipped to the FRB.
CIRCULATING RESULTS FY 2014 circulating coin shipments to the FRB increased by 2.3 billion units
(21.9 percent) to a total 13.0 billion coins compared to last year. The year saw a marked 58.5 percent
increase in quarter-dollar shipments, which drove increases in revenues and seigniorage.

Total Circulating Coin Production (coins in millions)

30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0

1966

1972

1978

1984

1990

1996

2002

2008

2014

Shipment volumes increased for all denominations. As a percentage of total shipments, quarter-dollar
shipments increased from 10 percent in FY 2013 to 13 percent in FY 2014. In contrast, the percentage of
total shipments for all other denominations decreased 1 percentage point to 61 percent, 17 percent and 9
percent of total shipments for one-cent coins (pennies), dimes and five-cent coins (nickels), respectively.
FY 2014 circulating revenue was $783.0 million, 35.5 percent higher than $578.0 million last year,
primarily because of a 58.5 percent increase in quarter-dollar revenues. FY 2014 seigniorage was $289.1
million, 110.4 percent higher than last year, mainly because of increased quarter-dollar shipments and
lower metal costs for nickels, dimes, and quarters. Lower metal costs this year compared to last year
saved us approximately $28.8 million in minting and issuing the 13.0 billion coins ordered by the FRB.
The Mint also controlled indirect costs, allowing the increased shipments to generate more seigniorage.
Plant costs at the production facilities at Denver and Philadelphia increased only 1.7 percent (excluding a
one-time establishment of an allowance last year for supplies of $6.7 million), despite the 21.9 percent
increase in coin production. General and administrative costs increased slightly with increased research
and development expenses. Seigniorage per $1 issued was $0.37 in FY 2014, versus $0.24 last year.
2

FY 2014 unit costs decreased for all denominations compared to last year. This was because we increased
production for all denominations and reduced metal costs for nickels, dimes, and quarters. By keeping
indirect costs down in the face of increased demand, fixed costs were spread among more units. The unit
cost for both pennies (1.7 cents) and nickels (8.1 cents) remained above face value for the ninth
consecutive fiscal year. Although there was higher demand, lower unit costs generated a smaller FY 2014
loss ($90.5 million) for these two denominations compared to FY 2013 ($104.5 million).
Compared to last year, the average spot prices for zinc prices increased 8.4 percent to $2,080.92, nickel
increased 3.9 percent to $16,394.01 per tonne, and average copper prices fell 6.9 percent to $6,993.38.

UNIT COST OF PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING COINS BY DENOMINATION
2014

One-Cent

Five Cent

Dime

Quarter-Dollar

Cost of Goods Sold
Selling, General & Administrative
Distribution to FRB
Total Unit Cost

$ 0.0143
$ 0.0021
$ 0.0002
$ 0.0166

$ 0.0699
$ 0.0102
$ 0.0008
$ 0.0809

$ 0.0338
$ 0.0049
$ 0.0004
$ 0.0391

$ 0.0775
$ 0.0109
$ 0.0011
$ 0.0895

2013

One-Cent

Five Cent

Dime

Quarter-Dollar

Cost of Goods Sold
Selling, General & Administrative
Distribution to FRB
Total Unit Cost

$ 0.0156
$ 0.0025
$ 0.0002
$ 0.0183

$ 0.0805
$ 0.0131
$ 0.0005
$ 0.0941

$ 0.0391
$ 0.0061
$ 0.0004
$ 0.0456

$ 0.0903
$ 0.0135
$ 0.0012
$ 0.1050

2012

One-Cent

Five Cent

Dime

Quarter-Dollar

Cost of Goods Sold
Selling, General & Administrative
Distribution to FRB
Total Unit Cost

$ 0.0163
$ 0.0034
$ 0.0003
$ 0.0200

$ 0.0829
$ 0.0173
$ 0.0007
$ 0.1009

$ 0.0415
$ 0.0080
$ 0.0004
$ 0.0499

$ 0.0943
$ 0.0171
$ 0.0016
$ 0.1130

2011
Cost of Goods Sold
Selling, General & Administrative
Distribution to FRB
Total Unit Cost

One-Cent
$ 0.0197
$ 0.0041
$ 0.0003
$ 0.0241

Five-Cent

Dime

$ 0.0938
$ 0.0176
$ 0.0004
$ 0.1118

$ 0.0474
$ 0.0087
$ 0.0004
$ 0.0565

3

Quarter-Dollar
$ 0.0923
$ 0.0176
$ 0.0015
$ 0.1114

$1 Coin
$ 0.0000
$ 0.0000
$ 0.0000
$ 0.0000
$1 Coin
$ 0.0000
$ 0.0000
$ 0.0000
$ 0.0000
$1 Coin
$ 0.1802
$ 0.0288
$ 0.0021
$ 0.2111

$1 Coin
$ 0.1531
$ 0.0251
$ 0.0021
$ 0.1803

Circulating Seigniorage by Year ($ Millions)

$271

$(38)
$(53)

CIRCULATING (coins and dollars in millions except seigniorage per $1 issued)
2012

2011

2010

% Change
2013 to 2014

10,696

9,082

7,396

5,399

21.9%

$ 783.0

$ 578.0

$ 493.3

$ 776.9

$ 618.2

35.5%

Gross Cost
Cost of Goods Sold
Selling, General & Administrative

$ 493.9
$ 435.4
$
58.5

$ 440.6
$ 383.7
$
56.9

$ 387.4
$ 325.8
$
61.6

$ 428.1
$ 364.7
$
63.4

$ 317.4
$ 239.2
$
78.2

12.1%
13.5%
2.8%

Seigniorage
Seigniorage per $1 Issued

$ 289.1
$
0.37

$ 137.4
$
0.24

$ 105.9
$
0.21

$ 348.8
$
0.45

$ 300.8
$
0.49

110.4%
54.2%

2014

2013

13,037

Value of Shipments

Coin Shipments

4

SHIPMENTS, COSTS AND SEIGNIORAGE BY DENOMINATION
(coins and dollars in millions except seigniorage per $1 issued)
One-Cent

FiveCent

Dime

7,920

1,211

2,223

2014
Coin Shipments

Quarter-Dollar

Dollar

1,683

Mutilated
& Other
-

Total

-

13,037

Value of Shipments

$

79.2

$ 60.5

$222.3

$

421.0

$

-

$

-

$ 783.0

Gross Cost
Cost of Goods Sold
Selling, General & Administrative

$
$
$

132.1
115.3
16.8

$ 98.1
$ 85.7
$ 12.4

$ 87.1
$ 76.1
$ 11.0

$
$
$

150.5
132.2
18.3

$
$
$

-

$
$
$

26.1
26.1
-

$ 493.9
$ 435.4
$ 58.5

Seigniorage
Seigniorage per $1 Issued

$
$

(52.9) $ (37.6) $135.2
(0.67) $ (0.62) $ 0.61

$
$

270.5
0.64

$

-

$ (26.1) $ 289.1
$ 0.37

One-Cent

FiveCent

Dime

6,610

1,123

1,901

2013
Coin Shipments

Quarter-Dollar

Dollar

1,062

Mutilated
& Other
-

Total

-

10,696

Value of Shipments

$

66.1

$ 56.2

$190.1

$

265.6

$

-

$

-

$ 578.0

Gross Cost
Cost of Goods Sold
Selling, General & Administrative

$
$
$

121.1
104.7
16.4

$ 105.7
$ 91.0
$ 14.7

$ 86.6
$ 75.1
$ 11.5

$
$
$

111.5
97.2
14.3

$
$
$

-

$
$
$

15.7
15.7
-

$ 440.6
$ 383.7
$ 56.9

Seigniorage
Seigniorage per $1 Issued

$
$

(55.0) $ (49.5) $103.5
(0.83) $ (0.88) $ 0.54

$
$

154.1
0.58

$

-

$ (15.7) $ 137.4
$ 0.24

One-Cent

FiveCent

Dime

5,835

1,006

1,658

2012
Coin Shipments

Quarter-Dollar

Dollar

486

Mutilated
& Other

97

Total

9,082

Value of Shipments

$

58.4

$ 50.3

$165.8

$

121.7

$

97.1

$

-

$ 493.3

Gross Cost
Cost of Goods Sold
Selling, General & Administrative

$
$
$

116.4
96.5
19.9

$ 101.5
$ 84.1
$ 17.4

$ 82.7
$ 69.5
$ 13.2

$
$
$

54.9
46.6
8.3

$
$
$

20.5
17.7
2.8

$
$
$

11.4
11.4
-

$ 387.4
$ 325.8
$ 61.6

Seigniorage
Seigniorage per $1 Issued

$
$

(58.0) $ (51.2) $ 83.1
(0.99) $ (1.02) $ 0.50

$
$

66.8
0.55

$
$

76.6
0.79

$ (11.4) $ 105.9
$
$ 0.21

5