Okay, this matter brings up a question that I haven't thought too much about, but I think my question is valid: doesn't it take an act of CONGRESS to make melting down the national coinage a crime? How can an un-elected government agency take it upon itself to declare some activity a legally-actionable crime, complete with fine and prison term, if you are found guilty of the infraction? I don't think of myself as a Libertarian, but isn't the U.S. Mint overstepping it's bounds here? How is it that we have gotten to a point where un-elected government agencies can decide what the laws of the land shall be? I know the U.S. Mint isn't the only un-elected government agency that does this. (The FDA is one example that comes to mind).