Why does the US Mint

Well, if the demand is so astronimical, how come I can easily obtain 2009 bullion pieces (2010 as well)? One would think that with all this so called demand, pieces such as these would be as rare as hens teeth.......

 

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Demand is not as great right now as it was last year when silver was going over $20 and everyone thought it was going to go even higher. Back then you COULDN'T go out to shops and easily pick up 2009 bullion ASE's. They either didn't have them available (and usually no other silver either) or if they did they want a high premium for them. But silver dropped and now all those people who were clambering to buy it at $22 an oz have little interest at $17 so the 2009's 2010's and the other dates are available again. You let silver pop up over $20 and oz again and the ASE's will disappear again and the distributors orders to the mint will greatly increase again. If it does it suddenly enough there will once again be a shortage of planchets and rationing will return.

There was also the problem of planchet production. There are only a few firms that create those silver planchets and they supply multple manufacturers. During the height of the demand period those firms were maxed out on production and their customers were requesting more planchets per day than they could make. When that happened it didn't matter that the Mint wanted and needed more planchets, they weren't going to get them. So using every planchet they could get they couldn't keep up with the bullion orders.

 

As usual Condor, your complete and concise answer thoroughly explains what's going on. Forgive the rantings of a very passioned ASE proof collector......