New Bipartisan Bill Targets Soaring Coin Costs: Metal Modification on the Horizon
Soaring costs to produce U.S. coins could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a new bipartisan effort on Capitol Hill. A new bipartisan bill introduced today aims to address the escalating costs of minting coins by allowing the U.S. Mint to alter the metal content of circulating coinage.
The Coin Metal Modification Authorization and Cost Savings Act of 2025
Dubbed The Coin Metal Modification Authorization and Cost Savings Act of 2025, this legislation, championed by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), proposes giving the Director of the US Mint the authority to modify the metallic composition of circulating coins to a more affordable and readily available alternative. GOP Sen. Joni Ernst, of Iowa, and Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan, of New , are leading the charge to pass this money-saving measure.
Saving Taxpayer Money Through Innovative Coin Design
WASHINGTON – A bipartisan bill to authorize the U.S. Mint to alter the met‐ al content of coins in order to save tax‐ payers money will be reintroduc\xaded on Thursday. The proposed legislation would give the U.S. Mint the power to adjust the metal content of coins to more affordable materials. WASHINGTONA bipartisan bill to authorize the U.S. Mint to alter the met‐ al content of coins in order to save tax‐ payers money will be reintroduc\xaded on Thursday. Importantly, these changes wouldn’t affect the appearance or functionality of the coins. Changing the metallic composition of coins–without affecting the way they look or work – could allow the U.S. Mint to begin producing coins at a more cost-effective rate.
Significant Cost Savings Projected
The potential savings are substantial. A New U.S. Mint Report Estimates $12 to $51 Million In Savings From Changing Coin Composition annually. According to a 2025 U.S. Mint report, it costs about 13.78 cents to mint each 5-cent coin, highlighting the need for cost-saving measures. The new legislation was carefully crafted to ensure minimal disruption to vending machines and other coin-operated devices.
Why This Matters
This bipartisan bill addresses a critical issue: the rising cost of minting coins. By modernizing the metal composition, the U.S. Mint can significantly reduce expenses, ultimately benefiting taxpayers. It\'s important to note that this initiative is not related to recent misinformation, such as "Fact check: Did Trump raise the US minimum wage to $25 an hour? What Mississippi". This bill focuses solely on improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of coin production.