Coins vs. Rounds

I read something very interesting. Generic 1 ounce silver coins issued by private mints are called "rounds". I always wondered why they called them "rounds" instead of "coins".

It turns out that "coins" is a government-copyrighted term. If I say "I minted a 1 ounce coin", legally it is like saying "I minted a 1 ounce silver legal tender US money". In the eyes of the government "coins" always means "government issued money". If I tell someone, "Will you accept this one ounce silver coin as payment?", I am committing a crime. If I tell someone, "Will you accept this one ounce silver round as payment?", I am not committing a crime. (Of course, both of us need to report this as a taxable transaction, based on the change in the Federal Reserve Point-denominated price of silver while it was in our possession; capital gains taxes are owed on silver barter transactions at the 28% collectibles rate. This is the reason silver rounds do not circulate as money.)

Private mints need to call what they mint "rounds" instead of "coins" so they aren't violating this regulation. It sounds completely silly to me.

I don't understand why the government is allowed to trademark or copyright the term "coin".

There's nothing wrong with a private mint making and selling disk-shaped silver objects, as long as they don't call them "coins" and as long as they aren't confused with official government money.