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What other US Mints are there -- besides Philadelphia?Eight US Mints have opened since the first Philadelphia Mint in 1792 to the West Point Mint in 1988.Behind that somewhat dry fact is a shifting mix of politics, economics, scandal, failure, frustration, and even success. Before delving into historical circumstances of the mints at Philadelphia, Charlotte, Dahlonega, New Orleans, San Francisco, Carson City, Denver, and West Point – there are several things to know about minting in general: A mint is a coin factory – an industrial facility built to accommodate a process that converts valuable raw materials into products (coins) of greater value and utility for a demanding public. Mints are government operations that are nevertheless expected to make a profit. Although mints are established to satisfy economic requirement for a dependable supply of circulating coin, mints are also creatures of political influence, as evidenced by the facts of their creation and location, and the identity and party affiliation of their managers. At the core of minting is a worthwhile effort to bring order to chaos. When commerce is left to barter or gold dust, economic activity is constrained -- a condition alleviated by introducing trustworthy coinage, produced to an agreed standard, and consistently available. To illustrate and expand on the above, consider the stories of the mints established at:
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