The latest thing affected by the Coronavirus? A nationwide shortage of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.

Just a few weeks ago the Federal Reserve banking system issued a note that it would start rationing coins. It was also told they would work with U.S. Mint to fix the coin supply chain problem.

The pandemic has disrupted the supply chain and normal circulation of coins. The U.S. Mint’s coin production fell “due to measures to protect its employees.”

Tennessee Representative John Rose said he had been hearing from banks in his district that were only receiving a fraction of their weekly coin orders.

“I’m curious what the Federal Reserve would suggest banks and retail businesses do to deal with this shortage,” Rep. Rose said. “I’m thinking about not only the banks and other retail businesses, but their customers, who will be faced with the prospect of having to round up or round down. In a time when pennies are the difference between profit and loss, it seems to be a bigger concern than the Fed’s announcement indicated that it is.”

Congressman Rose called on the Fed to issue more robust guidance to banks across the country dealing with this issue and Chairman Powell committed to do so.

A coin shortage would have an extremely large impact on these communities if businesses are unable to make change. Congressman Rose is a cosponsor of HR 2650, the Payment Choice Act, which is a bipartisan initiative to require merchants to accept cash to protect these areas.

Many businesses have signs on their doors alerting customers to use the correct change.

If you are holding on to coins, now is a good time to cash them in to get them back into circulation.