Coin collecting is a hobby often started in childhood. What better way to foster this hobby than a tour where our coins are made? There are currently mint facilities in the cities of Denver, Fort Knox, Philadelphia, San Francisco and West Point.
The Philadelphia Mint is the largest of the countries four active coin-producing mints. The Philadelphia Mint first opened in 1792, with the fourth facility replacement since that time. The Philadelphia Mint has design and engraving departments with responsibility for master die production for all US coins.
The Denver Mint began in 1863 as an assay office after gold was discovered in the area. The Mint opened a Denver branch in 1906 after receiving over $5 million in gold and silver deposits. Coins minted at the Denver branch were identified with a D mintmark, also producing its own working dies.
The San Francisco Mint is the largest and most powerful coinage press in the world. It opened in 1854 to accommodate the influx of ore from California Gold Rush goldfields of that time. It has outgrown multiple facilities over the years to its present facility. Coins produced from this mint are identified with an S mintmark to separate its coins from other mint branches.
Fort Knox is not a coin production facility but identified as an important part of US financial holdings. Its function is gold and silver bullion storage for the US and other countries.
The West Point branch of the mint is the newest, having establishment in 1988. Its forerunner was the West Point Bullion Depository opening in 1937. It produced cents identical to Philadelphia Mint coinage from 1973 to 1986. It also produces commemorative and proof coinage with a W mintmark. Additionally it is used for storage of US gold bullion reserves.
Public Tours of the Philadelphia Mint facility are conducted at no charge. The hour tour combines video, audio, historic documents, photographs, and sample currency. This paints an overview of American coin production from the 1700’s to present day. Visitors can view from a glass-enclosed corridor witnessing large machinery in a production line producing huge quantities of all coin denominations.
Visitors must present a valid photo ID for entry and photography is not allowed in the facility.
Regular operating hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Summer hours are Monday – Saturday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
The Philadelphia Mint is at 151 North Independence Mall East between Arch and Race streets. It is over a 5 hour drive of 342 miles from Rochester NY. Drive east on I-90 at Syracuse take US 81 south to Scranton PA, then US 476 south to US 76 into downtown Philadelphia following signs to the mint.
A visitor in February made the following comment.
“Great place to visit!! The kids loved it!! No admission fee! Staff was polite! Self guided tour was well done. The visit is not complete without a visit to the gift shop!”
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