Total AIs added to inventory after 14 years = 48 million. I really think they need to put a mintage limit on the AI Proofs = say 500K. Makes them more collectible and reduces chance unnecessary dollar coins added to inventory.

Native American Dollars = sold in proof and mint sets, Plus special finish in coin and currency – 4 – 8 million a year since 2012. Excellent designs and highly informative (although the booklet for the AI Rev Proof is even more informative)In 14 years if they continue it that long, about 64 or so million.

Total return to inventory – 110 million.

This is not bad but again I think the AI dollar proofs should be limited to 500K as we have technically two different dollar coins in our currency and it woudl be good to have the 110 million lower.

But to put this in perspective – the Presidential dollars had circulations just for one coin ranging from 10 – 40 MILLION until they were put out of circulation.

What might help clear out much clad is to allow people to melt copper coins – but restricted to a certain amount every year so that copper prices are NOT inflated. It would do collectors a great benefit – clear out the TONS of common date pennies still in circulation (1941 pennies still show up in pocket change) as well as some of the dollar coins which are mostly copper, provide copper for other more practical uses (building materials etc).

And yes, it would be nice for the US to move away from the dollar bill and replace it with a coin. I tried it recently as in the northeast US you get them from transit vending machines and I found the Sacajewa and Presidential with their gold color and edge lettering provide sufficient differentiation from other coins to have it be useful.

They are only striking limited runs to sell to collectors, in proof and mint sets, rather than large numbers in the vain hope of circulation. Of course that doesn’t mean all the sets will quickly sell. It took several years to get rid of the 1999-P Anthony proof dollar, and that had a run of only 750,000. Still, seen in this light it is awesomely moronic to start another series (American innovation). The initial design was so bad the artistic committee couldn’t accept anything, and the idea is pointless. As Andrew says, if the paper dollar is removed then the coins may circulate. As it is the whole situation certainly does make no sense, new mintings or not.