Mint puts the brakes on coins: Small denominations shelved

Data from the General Directorate of the Mint and Stamp Printing House for the first 7 months of 2026 point to a remarkable decline in coin production. The total number of coins put into circulation during the January-July period decreased by 52.9 percent compared to the same period last year.

According to the data, while 402.8 million coins were put into circulation in the first 7 months of 2025, this number fell to 189 million 610 thousand in the same period this year. Thus, the amount of coins put into circulation decreased by approximately 213.2 million units in one year.

MINTING OF SMALL DENOMINATIONS HALTED

The most significant change in the table was seen in low-value coins. In the January-July period of 2026, 1 kuruş and 5 kuruş coins were not put into circulation by the Mint at all.

Production of 10 kuruş and 25 kuruş coins also remained limited. In the first 7 months of the year, only 360 thousand 10 kuruş coins and 108 thousand 25 kuruş coins were put into circulation. No new coins of either denomination were minted after February.

A sharp decline was also recorded in the 1 TL coin, one of the most frequently used coins in daily shopping. While 312 million 500 thousand 1 TL coins were put into circulation in the January-July period of last year, this number fell to 95 million 479 thousand in the same period this year. Accordingly, the supply of 1 TL coins decreased by 69.4 percent on an annual basis.

A decline was also observed in the 5 TL coin. Production of 5 TL coins, which was 89 million 200 thousand in the first 7 months of last year, fell to 75 million 546 thousand this year. Despite this, 1 TL and 5 TL coins accounted for more than 90 percent of the total coins put into circulation during the period.

The exception to the general decline was the 50 kuruş coin. While 1.1 million 50 kuruş coins were put into circulation in the first 7 months of 2025, this figure rose to 18 million 117 thousand in the same period of 2026. Thus, contrary to the contraction in other coins, the production of 50 kuruş coins increased significantly.

News Source: 12punto