US National Defense Silver Stockpile Eliminated (Washington, DC – November 27, 2000) The US Defense National Stockpile Center (DNSC) committed to deliver its remaining stockpile of silver, nearly 15 million ounces, to the United States Mint for its coinage programs. The final balance of silver will be shipped to the U.S. Mint over the next few weeks, effectively depleting the U.S. silver stockpile. Separately, a US Mint spokesman added - "We basically estimate we have about a year's worth of silver and we will be developing a plan to address future acquisition," spokesman Michael White told Reuters. (end)
Written into the 1986 Gold Eagle Act it requires that the US mint use only US produced gold and silver....seems they have run out.....