Nine out of ten coins I receive regularly are 2020-2022 mint.
Why did they capture all the pre covid coins?
I typically shuffle through my change to catch buffalos, eagles, or anything that would contain precious metals or value and in the 5-6 years doing it I haven't really found any old coins of value. A few silver nickels but not really worth my time.
So if the point of the capturing all change in circulation was to grab the precious metals remaining in coins, I don't think many were floating around.
Conspiracy bros, why was there a falsified change shortage?
Attempting to get you to use plastic over cash
I assumed something more sinister was afoot.
But if that was part of the digital ID push it makes sense.
Most places that posted "no change" would provide change. I was not once denied for trying to use cash during the "change" shortage.
What's more expensive? Putting paper in printers? Or typing digits in a computer screens??