Scottsdale Mint (@ScottsdaleMint)

Here's a problem for the US Mint. They don't own a blanking operation. That is, they can't make their own silver blanks. US rules require them to purchase blanks from American based companies. Which gives them up to 2 potential places they can buy blanks after factoring in their level of quality and consistency demanded. Only two business that have the infrastructure and quality control checks to produce blanks at the level required by the US Mint: Sunshine Minting and Leech Garner. Problem. Sunshine Minting and Leech Garner have tons of other options when it comes to selling blanks, better clients, who pay higher prices, and won't drop them when market conditions turn. See, if the US Mint is your customer, they lock you into terrible contracts that give them all the control and flexibility, and you - nothing. Things like, we can demand 10,000,000 blanks and cancel on you last minute without having to pay. Who can blame them if they're starting to divest away from the US Government?