Carson City Mint

The Carson City Mint was a branch of the United States Mint in Carson City, Nevada. It primarily minted low numbers of silver coins; however, gold was also minted in greater numbers. The mint was in operation for about 19 years.

The Carson City Mint was created in 1863 but wasn't put into operation until 1870. It ran until 1885, went on a hiatus, and resumed operations in 1889, after which it ran until 1893 when it closed for good. It is now the Nevada State Museum, Carson City.

History

Carson City Mint, 1866

Built at the peak of the silver boom conveniently near a local silver mine, 50 issues of silver coins and 57 issues of gold coins minted here between 1870 and 1893 bore the "CC" mint mark. The mint was established in Carson City to facilitate minting of silver coins from silver in the Comstock Lode, much as the San Francisco Mint was established to facilitate minting gold coins from the gold of the California gold rush. From 1895 to 1933, the building served as the U.S. Assay Office for gold and silver. The federal government sold the building to the state of Nevada in 1939. Coins struck here, especially Morgan Dollars, are generally rare and command a high premium among collectors.

The building that housed the mint was the first designed by Alfred B. Mullett after he became Supervising Architect of the Department of the Treasury. The construction supervisor was Abraham Curry, also known as the "Father of Carson City." The simple Renaissance Revival-style stone facade has pairs of round-headed windows and a center portico. It is now the home of the Nevada State Museum. Although the mint has not struck United States coins since 1893, Coin Press No. 1 (the original coin press from the mint) is still in the building and used to strike commemorative medallions with the "CC" mint mark. The most recent of these are medallions commemorating the 75th anniversary of the museum.

Denominations minted

Silver denominations

Seated Liberty dime (1871–78)

Twenty-Cent Piece (1875–76)

Seated Liberty quarter (1870–78)

Seated Liberty half dollar (1870–78)

Seated Liberty dollar (1870–73)

Trade Dollar (1873–85)

Morgan Dollar (1878–93)

Note: A Seated Liberty dollar was the first coin to be struck at Carson City.

Gold denominations

Half Eagle or $5.00 Gold (1870–84 and 1890–93)

Eagle or $10.00 Gold (1870–84 and 1890–93)

Double Eagle or $20.00 Gold (1870–85 and 1889–93)

Photos

• 
  As seen from across Carson Street in 2007
• 
  At night
• 
  The CC mint mark on a Liberty Half Eagle
• 
  A Seated Liberty quarter minted at Carson City.

See also

• Historical United States mints
• The Dalles Mint
• Nevada State Museum, Carson City

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Carson City.

• U.S. Mint
• Carson City Mint National Archives and Records Administration
• Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. NV-13-22, "United States Mint, Carson Street, Carson City, Carson City, NV", 14 photos, 13 data pages

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carson City Mint.