As We Move To A Cashless Society

No way.
When I began collecting in the mid 1960s, the U.S. population was about 200 million. I considered myself lucky to pluck coins from circulation from the 1910s and 1920s that were 50 years old (early Lincolns, Buffalos, Mercs, SLQs and early Walkers). There were 6 billion U.S.coins produced in those two decades.

So, fast forward 50 years. The U.S. population has increased to by about 60% to 325 million. But if we look at how many coins were made in the 1960s and 1970s, it is 100 billion, or 1500% higher, versus 60% population increase.

So the proportion of "old" coins potentially in circulation in relation to the population is far, far higher these days.

And in the 1940s where our population has tripled since then you had over 8 billion Lincolns alone. You can find different rates for different decades.

I never said it was proportional anyways, I said that it's a lot closer than most people would think.

The other thing though is quality and survival. It's easier to find an MS 66/67 FB 41-D or 42-D 10c than it is to find many of the FBs from the 80s/90s.

In the UK a lot of young people have been attracted to coin collecting through the recent commemorative 50 pence coins, especially the Olympics and Beatrix Potter issues. I've met several millenials who collect coins more or less seriously: when I was at school in the 1970s I knew hardly anyone of my age who collected coins.

Agreed, I see that as being a factor as well.

And coin collecting is also an appreciation of art.

Walkers and Buffs are absolutely amazing examples of artwork. I can't think of a more affordable work of art that you can literally carry around in your pocket.

Speaking only for myself I have always collected something. It maybe genetics or just my type of personality. Whatever the case maybe if the bug bites, it want matter what generation one came from. As long as there are coins there will be collectors.

I had a shock yesterday when I went into my local mobile phone shop, with a £10 note, all ready to top up my trusty pay-as-you-go 2001-vintage Nokia 3310... But in the three months or so since my last top-up, things had changed - there was a sign by the till saying 'Cash Not Accepted', and I had to use my debit card! Perhaps the phone shop doesn't want to attract possible thieves who might be more attracted by the cash in the till rather than the thousands of pounds worth of smartphones on display?