US Mint: What is it?

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The US Mint produces everyday coins and collectible coins in facilities across the US. It was founded in 1792 and is now part of the Treasury Department. The Mint Police protects the facilities. The 50 State Quarters program produced a quarter for each state over ten years.

The US Mint produces and distributes coins of the United States. Founded in 1792, this agency has a number of facilities across the United States where coins, such as dimes and pennies, are produced. Along with the everyday coins used for commerce, the US Mint also produces a variety of collectible coins and medals.
On April 2, 1792, the United States Mint was created by Congress to regulate the production and distribution of United States coins. The first mint building was erected in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was the capital of the United States at the time. This was the first federal building to be built under the US constitution.

The original United States Mint building in Philadelphia also housed an unusual mascot. “Peter the mint eagle,” as he is called, was said to have lived within the mint, and some say he was the inspiration for the eagle embossed on United States silver dollars produced in 1836. After his death accidental, Peter was mounted, and now resides in the current Philadelphia Mint building today as a visitor attraction.

The first mint was part of the State Department. In 1799, the United States Mint was transformed into an independent agency. With the Coinage Act of 1873, the mint became part of the Treasury Department and later, in 1981, it was again amended and placed under the authority of the United States Treasurer.

Today, the headquarters of the US Mint is in Washington, DC, the nation’s capital. In addition to Philadelphia’s largest coin manufacturing facility, there are also mint facilities in Denver, Colorado; San Francisco, Calif.; and West Point, New York. Another US Mint facility is located in Fort Knox, Kentucky, which is primarily used to store most of the United States’ official gold and silver bullion reserves.

To protect these mints, a special law enforcement agency was formed. Founded in 1792, the US Mint Police is considered one of the United Station’s oldest federal law enforcement agencies. They serve to protect all facilities of the United States Mint, including the headquarters and bullion reserves.

Everyday coins produced by these mint facilities include pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars. Commemorative coins are occasionally produced, which many people consider collectors’ items. For example, in 1999, the US Mint initiated the 50 State Quarters® program. During a span of ten years, a quarter representing each state was produced for approximately 10 weeks, never to be produced again. State neighborhoods were released in the order the states became part of the United States, and a symbol associated with that state is depicted on the back of each neighborhood.




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