U.S. GOLD COINS

Branching Mint

From 1792 to 1838, the United tales operated a single mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As America expanded westward, security and transportation issues forced the government to consider additional branch mints closer to the sources of natural ore. The discovery of gold in the Southeast sparked the opening of mints in Dahlonega (Georgia) and Charlotte (North Carolina) in 1838. Also in 1838, a mint was opened in New Orleans, Louisiana, to facilitate commerce in the new states and to convert the steady stream of world coins that were entering the city. In 1854, a branch mint was opened in San Francisco, California, to satisfy the tremendous demand for local coinage and to replace the sometimes fraudulent privately minted coins in circulation. In 1870, a branch mint was established at Carson City, Nevada, to handle the huge amounts of ore coming out of the Comstock Lode. Finally, in 1906, Denver, Colorado, became the site of another branch mint.

Several of the mints fell victim to circumstances beyond their control. For instance, in 1861, Confederate forces seized the Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans mints. The first two mints were shut down as a result, never to reopen, but the New Orleans Mint was recaptured by federal troops and produced coins until 1909. The Carson City Mint died a slow death of attrition caused by a lack of sustaining appropriations. Others, like the main mint at Philadelphia and the branch mints at Denver and San Francisco, still strike coins today.

The following is a list of U.S. mints that have produced gold coins for circulation:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1792 to Present)
The Philadelphia Mint was built in 1792 on the first piece of property purchased with federal money. From inauspicious beginnings, the Philadelphia Mint has become the largest and most important mint in the world. Certain of the Mint buildings sustained a fire in 1816. A new Mint building (on a separate site) was opened in 1833. In 1901, a third Mint building was opened (also on a separate site). Finally, in 1969, a fourth Mint building was built just a couple of blocks away from the site of the original 1792 buildings. Coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint prior to 1980 bear no mintmark; since 1980, the coins bear the letter P. The Philadelphia Mint produced copper, silver, and gold coins, usually of exceptional quality. The Philadelphia Mint was responsible for preparing dies for the branch mints. Proof coins were prepared and struck in a department at the Philadelphia Mint separate from the normal coining room.
Dahlonega, Georgia (1838-1861)
The Dahlonega Mint opened in 1838 to process locally mined gold. Output at this mint was always low, yet it continued to operate until 1861, when Confederate forces seized the building at the outset of the Civil War. In 1878, the Dahlonega Mint was destroyed by fire. Today, Price Memorial Hall of North Georgia College sits on the original foundation of the Dahlonega Mint. The mintmark for Dahlonega is the letter D (the same as the Denver Mint, but the two mints never operated simultaneously). The Dahlonega Mint produced only gold coins, many of which were poorly made.
New Orleans, Louisiana (1838-1909)
The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838 to take advantage of the strategic port location and the economic importance of the city, as well as the availability of locally mined gold. In 1861, the mint's operations were discontin¬ued after it was seized by Confederate forces, who used the building as quarters for its troops. In 1862, Union forces recaptured the city, eventually reopening the building as a U.S. assay office. For a short time, the building was used as a federal prison. In 1879, coinage resumed and continued until 1909. Today, the building still stands on the northeastern edge of the French Quarter, serving as a branch of the Louisiana State Museum. The mintmark for New Orleans is the letter O. The New Orleans Mint produced both gold and silver coins, in varying mintages (rare to common), generally of good quality, but often softly struck.
Charlotte, North Carolina (1838-1861)
The Charlotte Mint opened in 1838 to process locally mined gold. In 1844, a substantial portion of this mint burned to the ground, preventing coinage in 1845. In 1861, Confederate forces seized the Charlotte Mint and shut it down, turning it into a hospital and headquarters during the Civil War. From 1867 to 1913, the build¬ing housed a U.S. assay office. The building was later moved and currently houses an art museum. The mint-mark for Charlotte is the letter C. The Charlotte Mint produced only gold coins, usually of low mintage, not quite up to the standards of the Philadelphia Mint, but generally better than the coins produced at its sister facility in Dahlonega, Georgia.
San Francisco, California (1854 to Present)
The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 to process the huge amounts of gold coming out of California's streams and mines. In 1874, a new San Francisco mint opened, looking much like an ancient Greek temple. In 1906, a major earthquake destroyed most of San Francisco, but the mint building, known affectionately as the Granite Lady, survived relatively unscathed. In 1937, the Mint moved to a newer, more modern facility, which still operates today. The former mint building is now home to the American Money and Gold Rush Museum (AMGRM). (For more information about the museum and the ongoing renovations to the Granite Lady visit www.amgrm.com.) The mintmark for San Francisco is the letter S. The San Francisco Mint produced copper, silver, and gold coins, usually of excellent quality.
Carson City, Nevada (1870-1893)
The Carson City Mint began coinage operations in 1870, processing locally mined gold and silver. Coinage continued until 1893, when the building was converted to a U.S. assay office. After the mint closed in 1933, it fell into disrepair. In 1939, the State of Nevada purchased the building, performed renovations, and reopened it as the Nevada State Museum. The old Carson City Mint building still stands today. The mintmark for Carson City is the letters CC. The Carson City Mint produced silver and gold coins, often of low mintage, usually of good quality.
Denver, Colorado (1906-Present)
The Denver Mint opened as a U.S. Assay Office in 1863 to help process locally mined ore. However, coinage did not begin until 1906, after a new building had been completed. The Denver Mint remains in operation today. The mintmark for Denver is the letter D (the same as the Dahlonega mintmark, but the two mints never operated simultaneously). The Denver Mint produced copper, silver, and gold coins, usually of good quality.

Courtesy Garrett and Guth: Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins

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