No I have not paid $450 for a $300 strike. That's the answer to the question.

My comments to your comments are somebody will pay more then face because they collect silver strikes, not just bullion. I have a bunch of common strikes in my collection that are essentially worth more as bullion than they are as strikes. I also have strikes that are worth more to collectors than they are as bullion. I have strikes I like enough to pay well over bullion because they fit into my collection and add something to it. I have a TI $200, wouldn't sell it for bullion if it was the last thing I owned and silver was $150 an ounce. I passed on some Palms $200's because I didn't like them, even for less than than bullion.

Have you ever actually weighed for silver content in a sterling silver chain, or a gold ring? trust me, lots of folks pay WAY more premium on plain jewelry than a 300 strike for $450. Would you pay a little over bullion for a proof 1986 Silver Eagle? How about anyone want to sell a reverse proof 2006 Gold Eagle for spot? My point is SOME things are worth more than the sum of the parts, they tend to hold their value and are collectables.

All that being said.... the designs of the $300's will be the determining factor whether they are going to eventually sell for bullion or have some added collector value. Until that $300 strike comes along, there are still plenty of $200's I am missing that I will be looking at for less than $450.