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As a numismatist, you may have pondered the origins of your treasured coins. After all, they’ve come a long way before reaching your collection. But, no matter the rarity of your coin nor the years it’s circulated if it’s a US coin, it came from the US Mint. The Mint is a unit of the Department of the Treasury and is responsible for producing US coinage. And it is here where our nation’s independent form of currency began.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Today, there are four active Mints, one in Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point. However, the US Mint began in Philadelphia, the nation’s capital at the time, with the Coinage Act of 1792. Before this establishment, the young, yet growing United States relied on foreign currency, livestock, and produce for their monetary transactions. So, with the close of the Revolutionary War, the governing Articles of Confederation authorized states to mint their own coins. This decision, made in 1788, led to the country’s plans for a national mint.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]With the establishment of the first US mint, President George Washington appointed the well-renowned scientist David Rittenhouse as its director. Rittenhouse purchased two lots in Philadelphia on which he built a three-story facility for the facility. It was the tallest building in Philadelphia at the time and the very first federal building to be erected under the constitution. Despite its impressive status, though, the Mint was not just for show, and coin production began without haste. It produced the following denominations:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Within just one year of operation, the Mint had delivered 11,178 copper cents as the country’s first circulating coins.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
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[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The US Mint production facilities are rich in history and the birthplace of all American coins. We highly recommend, if you get the opportunity, to visit the Philadelphia or Denver facilities, which are open for tours. Either location will offer a fascinating learning experience for anyone interested in coin collection.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]If you are a numismatist, always on the search for a new treasure, make sure to stop by our shop! We at Briggs and Coops love all things coins and are prepared to answer questions and help you find your collection’s next addition. Come by today![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
