Hobbies And Interests
Foundation
The United States Mint began in 1792 in Philadelphia. Coins were formerly issued by local banks, and the initiation of a nationalized coin system was met with some skepticism. George Washington supposedly donated some of his own personal silver to the new mint for coin production, as noted on the U.S. Mint's website. This first mint was the first federal building built after the enactment of the Constitution.
Former Locations
Eventually, the demand of coin production led to additional mints being built across the country. The Dahlonega Mint was built and began pressing coins in 1838 in Dahlonega, Georgia. Upon the start of the Civil War, coinage was suspended in 1861. In 1871, the building fell out of government ownership. 1838 also saw the additions of the Charlotte Mint (in North Carolina) and the New Orleans Mint. The Charlotte Mint closed in 1913, while the New Orleans Mint closed in 1909. Carson City, Nevada housed a mint from 1870-1893.
Current Locations
The United States Mint system comprises four minting locations as well as the gold depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and mint headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Philadelphia Mint covers five acres of land and is the largest mint in the world, according to USHistory.org. The Denver Mint opened in 1906 and presses many of the Statehood Quarters in circulation. In 1854, the San Francisco Mint began coinage. The San Francisco Mint withstood the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. The West Point Mint in New York became an official U.S. Mint in 1988 and currently produces most of the gold coins in circulation. This mint is located near the West Point Military Academy but is not affiliated with it.
Coin Engraving
While all mints in the United States Mint system are able to press and circulate coins, only one location features coin sculpting and engraving. Coin engraving is the process of creating a 3D model of a coin face image, then creating a die to press that image onto a coin. An artist sketches the image to be pressed onto the coin, then an engraver creates the sculpted die. This is done at the Philadelphia Mint location. Dies created are then shipped to the other locations for use in minting.
Mint Police
United States mints require round-the-clock surveillance to keep the money safe. Each mint location has a host of United States Mint Police in place. This special police force makes sure that the mints are free from any potential criminal activity, such as theft or potential counterfeiters. The mint police have been a part of the minting system since the establishment of a minting system in 1792.