Product Code Database
The Denver Mint is a branch of the United States Mint that struck its first coins on February 1, 1906. "United States Mint at Denver Celebrates 100 Years of Change". The United States Mint. Retrieved Jun 20, 2009. The mint is still operating and producing coins for circulation, as well as mint sets and commemorative coins. Coins produced at the Denver Mint bear a D mint mark (as did the Dahlonega Mint, which closed before the Denver branch opened). The Denver Mint is the single largest producer of coins in the world.
A $20 gold coin was added, "the weight will be greater, but the value the same as the United States coin of like denomination". A $5 and a $2.5 gold coin were added, with production reaching $18,000 per week. On the front was the "head of the Goddess of Liberty surrounded by thirteen stars, with "Clark & Company" in the tiara. "Pikes's Peak Gold, Denver" was on the other side, with "5D." or "2 1/2 D."
In the almost three years of operation, they minted $594,305 worth of Pike's Peak gold in the form of gold coins. Additionally, they purchased 77,000 troy ounces of raw gold, and shipped "large amounts of dust" to the Philadelphia Mint. The building, assaying and minting equipment was formally bought by the US Treasury in April 1863. Clark, Gruber & Co. remained a bank until bought by the First National Bank of Denver in 1865.
Unlike Clark, Gruber and Company, though, the Denver plant performed no coinage of gold as first intended. One reason given by the Director of the Mint for the lack of coinage at Denver was, "…the hostility of the Indian tribes along the routes, doubtless instigated by rebel emissaries (there being a Civil War) and bad white men."
Gold and nuggets brought there by miners from the surrounding area were accepted by the Assay Office for melting, assaying, and stamping of cast . The bars were then returned to the depositors as imparted bars stamped with the weight and fineness of the gold. Most of the gold came from the rich beds of placer gold found in the streams and first discovered in 1858, the same year Denver was founded.
When the supply of gold was exhausted from the streams, the emphasis turned to lode mining, uncovering veins of ore with a high percentage of gold and silver. By 1859, the yearly value of the gold and silver deposited at the Assay Office was over $5.6 million. During its early years as an Assay Office, the Denver plant was the city's most substantial structure.
The United States Treasury did not expand its smelting and refining operations at the same rate as the discovery and production of gold. In 1872 a group of businessmen led by Judge Hiram Bond (formerly one of the largest brokers on the New York Gold Exchange), Joseph Miner and Denver Mayor Joseph E. Bates set up a firm Denver Smelting and Refining Works which built an independent complementary plant which processed ore into ingots which were then assayed, weighed and stamped by the Denver Mint.
Appropriations to complete and equip the plant were insufficient, and the transfer of assay operations to the new building were delayed until September 1, 1904. Coinage operations finally began on February 1, 1906, advancing the status of the Denver facility to Branch Mint. In addition, before the new machinery to be used at the Mint was installed for use, it was first sent to the St. Louis Exposition of 1904 for display. Silver coins were minted in Denver for the first time in 1906. During the first year, 167 million coins were produced, including $20 gold (double eagle) coins, $10 gold (eagle) coins, $5 gold (half eagle) coins, and assorted denominations of silver coins.
The mint was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It was further included as a contributing building in the listing of Civic Center Historic District in 1974. With Includes __ photos. ()
Today, the Denver Mint produces commemorative coins, coin dies and uncirculated coin sets. It has a production capacity of more than 50 million coins a day and roughly 350 employees.
The structure's first level uses Pikes Peak granite, while the second floor is sided with gray granite ashlar. The granite cornice of the building is bracketed above a decorated frieze, and Ludowici tile covers the building's roof.
The Mint's lobby features by Vincent Aderente that represent mining, manufacturing, and commerce.
1862 Act of Congress
Established by an Act of Congress on April 21, 1862, the United States Mint at Denver opened for business in late 1863 as a United States Assay Office. Operations began in the facilities of Clark, Gruber and Company, located at 16th and Market Streets and acquired by the government for $25,000.
Branch status
There was new hope for branch mint status when Congress provided for the establishment of a mint at Denver for gold and silver coin production. The site for the new mint at Colfax Avenue and Delaware streets was purchased on April 22, 1896, for approximately $60,000. Construction began in 1897.
Architecture
The current building, constructed 1904, is based on the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi in Florence, Italy. James Knox Taylor was the supervising architect in Washington, D.C., but the structure was designed by Tracy and Swartwout of New York City.
In popular culture
See also
External links
Categories: 1862 Establishments In Colorado Territory, Buildings And Structures In Denver, Colorado State Register Of Historic Properties, Mints Of The United States, National Register Of Historic Places In Denver, Tourist Attractions In Denver, United States Mint, Civic Center Historic District, Historic District Contributing Properties In Colorado, Government Buildings Completed In 1897, 1897 Establishments In Colorado, Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements Architecture
|
|
