[Vanders9]

I agree this is the main objection to the minting of this coin. Currency, surely represents wealth. It is not wealth in and of itself. It would be ok to mint a trillion dollar coin, or even a gadzillion dollar coin, if the wealth that it represented actually existed in some way. But of course it does not.

I wouldn't worry about the first objection, that it is an undignified thing to do. The economic reputation of the USA is already at rock-bottom as it is.

[xzins]

What it is is unconstitutional. Revenue decisions are a power of Congress, specifically the House of Representatives. This is done purely as an unintended manipulation of a law about minting coins.

[hinckley buzzard]

Somewhere in the South Sea Islands they used large stone wheels as money--they just stayed in one spot and it was understood who the owner was. They were too big to steal, and it worked fine. Why should we waste a bunch of platinum when a good big chunk of carved sandstone will serve just as well.