When Private Money Becomes a Felony Offense

"It is indisputably clear that the power to coin money and regulate its value is one that the Constitution delegates to Congress. It's an enumerated power, and one of the big ones. It's also clear that the Constitution bars states from making coins other than gold or silver legal tender. But it is not clear that there is a constitutional basis or a logic for prohibiting individuals from making and selling pieces of gold and silver and using them, on a voluntary basis, as money—i.e., to 'compete with' the official coinage of the U.S."

Seth Lipsky: When Private Money Becomes a Felony Offense - WSJ.com