The static final field Double.MIN_VALUE is set using the method longBitsToDouble instead of using the appropriate floating-point literal. Double.MAX_VALUE, Float.MIN_VALUE, and Float.MAX_VALUE are set with floating-point literals. Therefore, the latter three values act as Java constants (JLS v2 15.28) while the former does not. This creates problems in situations where a programmer wants to use Double.MIN_VALUE as a constant.