What I think is a load of crap is the fact that the government produced the coins, they set the face value and they distribute the coin, Then they get all bent out of shape for someone using the coin at face value they set.
If I walked into a store and bought a candy bar, and paid for it with a pre 64 silver dollar, would the store honor the face value of the coin or give me 7 dollars back for the difference in the intrinsic value? I bet I would not get the change back.