No Silver? No Problem: US Mint Would Like To Know If You Will Accept Brass, Steel, Iron Or Tungsten Coins Instead

Wonder why the US mint has not sold a single ounce of silver so far in March? Here is a clue:

United States Mint Seeks Public Comment on Factors to be Considered
in Research and Evaluation of Potential New Metallic Coinage Materials

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint today
announced that it is requesting public comment from all interested
persons on factors to be considered in conducting research for
alternative metallic coinage materials for the production of all
circulating coins.

These factors include, but are not limited to,
the effect of new metallic coinage materials on the current suppliers of
coinage materials; the acceptability of new metallic coinage materials,
including physical, chemical, metallurgical and technical
characteristics; metallic material, fabrication, minting, and
distribution costs; metallic material availability and sources of raw
metals; coinability; durability; sorting, handling, packaging and
vending machines; appearance; risks to the environment and public
safety; resistance to counterfeiting; commercial and public acceptance;
and any other factors considered to be appropriate and in the public
interest.

The United States Mint is not soliciting suggestions or
recommendations on specific metallic coinage materials, and any such
suggestions or recommendations will not be considered at this time.  The
United States Mint seeks public comment only on the factors to be
considered in the research and evaluation of potential new metallic
coinage materials.

The recently enacted Coin Modernization,
Oversight, and Continuity Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-302) gives the
United States Mint research and development authority to conduct studies
for alternative metallic coinage materials.  Additionally, the new law
requires the United States Mint to consider certain factors in the
conduct of research, development, and solicitation of input or work in
conjunction with Federal and nonfederal entities, including factors that
the public believes the United States Mint should consider to be
appropriate and in the public interest.

Comments must be submitted on or before April 4, 2011.  Interested parties may submit written comments by any of the following methods:

E-mail:	[e-mail]
Fax:	[phone]
Mail:	New Coin Materials Comments Mail Stop:  Manufacturing 6 North United States Mint 801 Ninth Street, N.W. Washington D.C.  20220
Hand Delivery/Courier:  Same as mail address.

For
further information, contact:  Jean Gentry, Deputy Chief Counsel,
United States Mint at [phone] (not a toll-free call).

h/t Alexander Gloy

Comments

[SilverFiend]

Plastic,  It is the new metal!

[Trifecta Man]

They should make the new coins out of tungsten.  That way when they counterfeit it, it will be the real thing.

[Spigot]

Well from the first para -

WASHINGTON - The United States Mint today announced that it is requesting public comment from all interested persons on *_factors to be considered in conducting research_* for alternative metallic coinage materials for the production of all circulating coins.

That is, they are performing a CYA preemptive "open comments" period before they use their own internal process for diddling around in meetings for the next 5 years before they do nothing.

Alternately, they are ramping up the bureaucratic machine needed to respond to the hyperinflation which is now all but public policy.

Or both... 

[bullionbaron]

US Mint just updated their site and have sold 668,500 for the month to date:

http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/american_eagles/index.cfm?action=sal...

The site is only updated intermittently so to suggest they hadn't sold a single ounce was a pretty ridciulous suggestion to begin with.

[angela03]

Why can't we just trade marbles or something. I have a beautiful cats eye, what will ya give me for it Bennie.