In 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War, the Confederacy gained control of these three facilities, sporadically making Confederate coinage before converting all of them to assay offices. Charlotte and Dahlonega concentrated on processing the miners’ gold into coins, while New Orleans minted both gold and silver coins to keep up with a growing America. In 1835, Congress passed legislation to establish three new branch Mints located in Charlotte, NC Dahlonega, GA and New Orleans, LA. Demand on the Philadelphia Mint to melt, refine, and produce coins from this gold pushed the Mint to its limits. In the early 1800s, America experienced its first two gold rushes: first in North Carolina and then in Georgia. Learn about their contribution to the Mint’s history and about other trailblazing women at Women at Work. In 1795, the Mint became the first federal agency to employ women: Sarah Waldrake and Rachael Summers were hired as adjusters. In March 1793, the Mint delivered its first circulating coins: 11,178 copper cents. In gold: quarter eagle ($2.50), half eagle ($5), and eagle ($10) In silver: half dime, dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar The Act specified the following coinage denominations: Artist’s rendition of the first Mint in PhiladelphiaĬoin production began immediately. It was the first federal building erected under the Constitution. Rittenhouse bought two lots at 7th and Arch Streets to build a three-story facility, the tallest building in Philadelphia at the time. President George Washington appointed a leading scientist, David Rittenhouse, as the first director. In 1788, the Constitution was ratified by a majority of states and discussions soon began about the need for a national mint.Ĭongress chose Philadelphia, what was then the nation’s capital, as the site of our first Mint. was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which authorized states to mint their own coins. During the Colonial Period, monetary transactions were handled using foreign or colonial currency, livestock, or produce. On ApCongress passed the Coinage Act, establishing the first national mint in the United States.
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