The point you're not getting is that you can "turn in" your U.S. Clad Coinage for Gold and Silver, having an "equal" amount of Face Value with the U.S. Bullion Coins... Plus the U.S. Coinage is "Debt and Interest Free"... Very different from the Federal Reserve (Debt) Notes, we're currently using... What part of "Backed by Gold and Silver" are you not seeing...??? Naturally the Melt Value of Gold and Silver will be lower than the Face Value of U.S. Bullion Coinage... Would you prefer that the United States stops using U.S. Clad Coinage and starts using Gold and Silver Coins that are so small, we'd need a Magnifying Glass, just to see them...??? Tell me why you think the Face Value of most (one ounce) U.S. Gold Eagles say Fifty Dollars...