>>61093449
The US Mint slowed down production in 2021/2022. That was when the silver squeeze was going on and I think that was partly a supply issue too. Note, the premiums shot up unnecessarily, a good thing if you are TPTB.
>It's entirely by choice they aren't producing any.
There is some truth to this. They begrudgingly mint and in no way do it efficiently or well. I think they purposely screw up to make their products more expensive and sabotage the retail market. Picrel is the former Mint Director (a black kween) who was replaced in 2025 for incompetence.