U.S. Mint in Denver

As the initial swell of the California gold rush was winding down, gold was found to the east—in the mountains near what is now Denver. The logistics of transporting the miners’ gold from Colorado to one of the preexisting mints—Philadelphia or San Francisco—and back again proved to be difficult and impractical. In 1862, Congress approved a new branch mint, but it would be considered only an assay office until 1895, when it was named an official mint. Today it makes several different types of coins, for both circulation and collection.

Fast Facts About U.S. Mint in Denver

  • Current building is modeled after the Medici-Riccardi Palace in Italy
  • Was the site of the 1922 Great Mint Robbery
  • Set the record for coins produced at any US mint facility in 2000
  • Stores 17.5% of country’s gold reserves

History of the U.S. Mint in Denver

Gold was found in Colorado in 1858, and thousands of miners came to the Rocky Mountains west of Denver. The city of Denver was actually founded as a result of this gold rush. Miners and settlers came in droves, and established the city, not far from the mining towns. Demand for a local coinage facility began to increase, and in 1862, Congress approved a new branch mint. The government bought the private mint building of Clark, Gruber & Co., and the next year, the doors were opened for miners to bring their gold to be cast into bars. However it was only officially classified as an assay office until 1895, when Congress converted it officially into a mint.

Act of Congress Enacting the U.S. Mint in Denver

When the need arose for a new mint in Colorado, Congress established a Denver assay office on April 21, 1862. It would not be until 1896 that the government would establish a formal mint that would produce gold and silver coins. Land was purchased and construction began the next year.

U.S. Mint in Denver’s Notable Directors, Coin Designers & Developments

What arose out of the need to have a nearby coin production facility to convert local raw gold and silver has turned into the largest producer of coins in the world. The mint began producing coins in 1906, and produced two million gold and silver coins equaling $17.9 million in value that year. In the year 2000 the Denver Mint set the record for coins produced at any U.S. mint facility in a year, with 15.4 billion coins. The building has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 2006 it celebrated 100 years of producing coins at its current facility. It is the oldest continually operating mint facility in the U.S.

Day to Day Operations of the U.S. Mint in Denver

Today, the Denver Mint makes regular circulating coins, commemorative coins, and coin dies. It is one of the oldest institutions in Colorado, and is open for public tours. It produces upwards of 40 million coins per day, the majority of which are pennies. Each day’s production adds up to a total of three to six truckloads. It also stores gold and silver bullion, including $100 billion worth of solid gold bars. The Denver Mint continues to produce coins by the billions year after year, and some say even that is below the mint’s full manufacturing capacity. It is a popular tourist attraction, thanks to both its prolific coin production and its historic exterior.

Some Rare “D” Mint Marked Coins Worth Watching Your Change to Find

If you are one of the lucky few to come across one of the 15 1992-D “Close AM” pennies known to exist,  that one-cent piece could net you over $20,000. In 1992, the Denver mint imprinted 15 pennies on which the A and the M in “America” on the reverse side are closer together than usual. One of them was sold in 2012 for $20,700. Also keep an eye out for Wisconsin state quarters from 2004 with the “D” mark. If you see two or more leaves on the corn cob on the reverse side, as opposed to just one, it could be worth up to $1500.

Learn more about past and & present coin values here.

Other U.S. Mints Past & Present

Demand for monetary production spread to different American regions in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. It all started in Philadelphia, then with gold rushes in the west came the need for mints in San Francisco and Denver, with a more recent one added in West Point, though there have been others. Though not all of today’s mints allow the public in, they serve as important parts of our country’s history and infrastructure.

Learn more about the modern and active U.S. Mints in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, California, and West Point, New York.

Content last updated on 01/25/23