Reply #27: I'm no expert on this, but I think it's in the statute.

[Jim Lane]

The gimmick would be to use a statute that gave the President the authority to direct the minting of platinum coins. I assume this law, passed years ago, was aimed at some purpose unrelated to Republican attempts to destroy the economy for political gain.

I think what I read was that platinum was specified in the law. Maybe it was intended to facilitate the minting of special platinum commemorative coins that the Treasury might sell to collectors at a profit but that would never be intended for circulation, or something like that.

I haven't bestirred myself to learn the details because the scheme doesn't seem to be under consideration in Washington.