U.S. coinage began with the Coinage Act of 1792, which adopted the dollar as the standard monetary unit. The U.S. Mint, which makes all U.S. coins, was established by Congress in 1792 and became an operating bureau of the Treasury Department in 1873. There are several mints located around the country that produces all United States coinage. The Philadelphia Mint (no mint mark) has been in continuous operation since 1792. The Denver Mint (mint mark, D) began its coinage operations in 1906. The West Point, New York (mint mark, W), and San Francisco Mints (mint mark, S) gained official Mint status in 1988. Originally an assay office, the San Francisco Mint is the primary production facility for proof coins. The West Point Mint, once used exclusively as a bullion depository, is now the Mint's chief producer of gold coins. Several branch mints are no longer in operation. These mints were located in Carson City, Nevada 1869-1899 (mint mark, CC); Charlotte, North Carolina 1838-1861(mint mark, C); Dahlonega, Georgia 1838-1861 (mint mark, D); and New Orleans, Louisiana 1838-1861 and 1879-1909 (mint mark, O). |
