What Are the Mints in the United States?

By GovMint :

A U.S. mint is defined as a coin-producing facility in the United States whose products include circulating coinage as well as collectible coins and bullion. While much of what a U.S. minting facility produces is considered legal tender, these facilities also do sometimes issue non-denominated medals. . Currently, four operating U.S. mints exist:

1. Denver, Colorado “D”
2. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania “P”
3. San Francisco, California “S”
4. West Point, New York “W”

This article will cover each of these in more detail, such as their historical backgrounds, their associated mint marks, and the types of coins they produce. We’ll also reveal mint facilities that are no longer in operation and why.

Denver, Colorado “D” (1906-Present)

In 1858, gold was discovered along the Platte River in Colorado, causing many prospecting settlers to rush to the area. Because transportation to and from the region was difficult, the United States Congress passed legislation in 1862 that approved a Denver mint for the coinage of only gold. It wasn’t until 1895 that Congress again passed additional legislation that enabled the state of Colorado to build a more fully functioning facility. This time, it had the approval to coin both gold and silver.

Construction for the new facility began in 1897 and finished in 1904. It wasn’t until 1906 that the Denver Mint started producing coins such as the $20 Double Eagles, $10 Eagles, and $5 Half Eagles, identified with a “D” mint mark. The Denver Mint has been in operation since then and is considered one of the largest.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania “P” (1792-Present)

In 1792, Congress passed the Coinage Act, giving power and authority to the U.S. Mint to produce gold, silver, and copper coins for public distribution. The following year, the first coin-producing facility opened in Philadelphia.

Throughout U.S. history, the Philadelphia Mint has moved or been reconstructed a total of four times to accommodate production demands or upgrade its press technology. The fourth Philadelphia Mint is the second instance where it used the letter “P” to identify the origins of its coins, the first being in 1942-1945. The Philadelphia Mint has produced pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollars, and more. Ever since 1980, every coin or medal issued by the Philadelphia Mint is struck with a “P” mint mark, except for pennies, with a few exceptions.  

San Francisco, California “S” (1849-Present)

The San Francisco Mint in California came in response to the California Gold Rush of 1848, similar to the Denver Mint. Approved by Congress in 1852, the San Francisco Mint opened in 1854, minting coins identified with the letter “S” for circulation. However, production of “S” circulating coins paused in 1955 and didn’t resume until 1968.

Throughout its history, the San Francisco Mint has undergone multiple relocations and pauses in production. What makes it unique is that it no longer produces circulating coins. Instead, it makes commemorative coins, such as clad and silver-proof coin sets, for collectors and investors.

West Point, New York “W” (1984-Present)

West Point Mint has been producing “W” marked coins since 1984.  Originally, it was established in 1937 as a bullion depository and didn’t start minting coins (without the “W” mint mark) until the early 1970s. To this day, West Point Mint continues to strike coins for circulation as well as coin collecting, including some varieties of the American Gold and Silver Eagle. It also continues as a depository for gold and silver bullion.

United States Mints No Longer in Operation

Over the history of the U.S., many U.S. Mints have been decommissioned for multiple reasons. These reasons include declines in mining operations, civil war, and technological upgrades. We’ve included U.S. Mints that are no longer operating down below.

Carson City, Nevada “CC” (1870-1893)

The Carson City Mint in Nevada only lasted for 23 years. In its time of operation, however, it minted over 57 different types of coins, including the “CC” marked Morgan and Seated Liberty dollars. The Carson City Mint shut down in 1893 due to the decline of mining in the nearby area.

Charlotte, North Carolina “C” (1838-1861)

Now a museum, the Charlotte Mint in North Carolina is a mint that struck "C" marked gold coins from 1838 to 1861. The Mint shut down at the start of the Civil War when it became occupied by Confederate soldiers and converted into a hospital and office space for their officers. Although it resumed operation as an assay office in 1867-1913 to test the quality of precious metals, it never returned to minting coins.

Dahlonega, Georgia “D” (1838-1861)

In response to discovering gold in the town of Dahlonega, Georgia, Congress authorized the construction of a branch in 1835. By the time the Dahlonega Mint completed construction and began striking coins, however, the gold in the area was depleted. Despite this problem, the Dahlonega Mint managed to survive, thanks to miners who brought home enough gold from the 1848 California and 1860 Colorado Gold Rush.

The Dahlonega Mint finally closed its doors in 1861 when the Confederate Congress seized it at the start of the Civil War. Although the facility did not strike a substantial amount of coins during its lifetime, it managed to mint some $1 and $3 gold coins and the iconic $5 half gold eagles – all stamped with a “D” mint mark.

New Orleans, Louisiana “O” (1838-1861, 1879-1909)

The New Orleans Mint produced a variety of “O” marked gold and silver coins during its lifetime. Before its establishment in 1835, Congress approved the construction of three new Mint branches, including the New Orleans Mint, to help deal with growing demand. The small Mint branch was responsible for striking numerous denominations, including:

• Half-dimes 
• Silver dollars
• $1 gold dollar
• $20 gold double eagle
• $4 gold Stella

When the Civil War broke out, the small branch shut down. It reopened in 1879 because the U.S. Mint needed another facility to help produce two million silver dollars each month, as required by legislation. Once the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver Mint facilities could handle this load, the New Orleans Mint permanently closed and is now a state museum.

Currently Part of the U.S. Mint but Not a Coin Producer

Currently, two facilities are part of the U.S. Mint but do not produce any U.S. coins. Instead, they help manage or oversee the production of coins or store bullion reserves. These facilities are in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C.

Fort Knox, Kentucky (1935-Present)

The United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox is a United States Mint facility that does not mint any coins. Instead, it acts as a highly secure bullion depository, storing large quantities of pure and precious metals such as gold and silver ingots or bars. While the facility has undergone multiple renovations and upgrades to its security since 1935, it has remained one of the most secure places in the United States.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. houses the U.S. Mint headquarters, where all administrative functions occur. Similar to Fort Knox, it does not mint U.S. coins. As listed on its site, it is responsible for managing coin programs, marketing, creating policies, handling business, providing customer support, and maintaining its website.

Where to Find Mint-Specific Coins

If you’re looking for authentic, high-quality U.S. Mint coins, visit our GovMint.com online store! We sell U.S. coins from various mints and other collectibles.

Sources

1. https://www.usmint.gov/learn/collecting-basics/mint-marks 
2. https://www.usmint.gov/learn/history/historical-documents/history-of-the-denver-mint 
3. https://www.historycolorado.org/location/denver-mint
4. https://uscoinnews.com/2022/01/26/coin-history-the-denver-mint/
5. https://www.usmint.gov/learn/history/historic-coin-production
6. https://home.treasury.gov/about/history/curator/us-mint-buildings/philadelphia-mint 
7. https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/united-states-mint-philadelphia/
8. https://www.usmint.gov/about/mint-tours-facilities/san-francisco
9. https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/west_point_mint/
10. https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/west-point-mint-marks-its-75th-anniversary.html 
11. https://www.usmint.gov/news/inside-the-mint/history-of-carson-city-mint
12. https://visitcarsoncity.com/nevadas-historic-capital/nevada-history/the-carson-city-mint/ 
13. https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/charlotte-mint-musuem-randolph/
14. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/branch-mint-at-dahlonega/
15. https://www.numismaticnews.net/world-coins/dahlonega-mint-offers-storied-history