ADDITIONAL SYSTEM INFORMATION :
same result on Windows7 and Windows8
German key board: $%&/()= characters go with the shift key
same result on jre1.8.0_171 and jre10

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
until jre1.8.0_151 it was possible to enter e.g. / ^ / into java.awt.TextField
after jre1.8.0_171 the same entry shows / ^ 7

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
start the program given in the souce code section and try to enter e.g. / ^ / into the TextField

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
TextField shows: / ^ /   (works until jre1.8.0_151)
ACTUAL -
TextField shows: / ^ 7  (on jre1.8.0_171 and jre1.10)

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;

class TextFieldBug extends WindowAdapter
{
   public static void main( String [] args )
   {
      Frame f = new Frame( "TextFieldBug" );
      f.setLayout( new GridLayout(0,1) );
      
      f.add( new Label( "Try to enter the string: $%&/()= ^ $%&/()= ") );
      TextField tf = new TextField();
      f.add( tf );
      
      f.pack();
      f.setVisible(true);
      f.setResizable(false);
      f.addWindowListener( new TextFieldBug() );
   }
   
   public void windowClosing( WindowEvent e )
   {
      System.exit(0);
   }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
enter the circumflex character ^ via the windows character map (most inconvenient)

FREQUENCY : always