Latest update September 5th, 2026 10:00 AM
$700M in coins circulating in Guyana
The total number of coins presently in circulation in Guyana,
(From left) One Dollars, Five Dollars, Ten Dollars
adds up to over seven hundred millions dollars.
This was according to a Bank Statement from the Bank of Guyana after the closing of Business on November 30, 2011.
It stated that precisely $784,193,266 of the monies circulating in Guyana represent coins.
Kaieteur News spoke with some of the vendors on Regent Street and around the Stabroek Market, who related that customers, in most cases would ask that they keep the change (coins).
Anita Mahadeo, a street vendor, admitted to Kaieteur News that when the customers refuse to collect their changes, she would stash it in “her little purse”.
“Them lil ten dollars and five dollars that they don’t want collect, does give me money to buy at least $200 credit ever day.”
Others say that the “lil changes” can even help to buy food sometimes. Many had attested to this, saying that on many occasions when they don’t make enough money to put food on the table, they depend on the “lil changes” to feed their families.
Kaieteur News asked a few persons on the streets how they use their coins, and the reply from the majority was that they usually leave them lying around the house.
One man even said that he has the habit of throwing away coins on the streets, in the yard and pretty much everywhere he goes with his wallet.
“I got to empty me wallet of the coins, them does irritate me with the noise that they make every time you take your wallet out and I find it disrespectful,” said the man.
Another man jokingly noted that had he known so much money in coins was out there, he would’ve already started picking up for the Christmas season.
Upon discovering this, persons added that they will start taking their “lil change” seriously and see how much money they can earn from saving these coins.
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Guyanese have money to waste, I keep my coins I put them in a jar and it adds up when i’m broke I draw my change out the adds up to dollars.