Carson City Mint
|
U.S. Mint | |
 | |
|
Carson City Mint, 1866 | |
| Location |
600 N. Carson St. Carson City, Nevada |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°10′02.83″N 119°46′02.20″W / 39.1674528°N 119.7672778°WCoordinates: 39°10′02.83″N 119°46′02.20″W / 39.1674528°N 119.7672778°W |
| Architect | Alfred Bult Mullett |
| NRHP Reference # | 75002127 |
| # | 196 |
| Added to NRHP | September 5, 1975 |
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 nineteen years.
The Carson City Mint was created in 1863 but wasn't put into operation until 1870. It ran until 1885 when it went on hiatus but it resumed operation in 1889 when it ran until 1893 when it closed for good. It is now a historical museum.
History
Built at the peak of the silver boom conveniently nearby 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, somewhat like how 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 there are generally rare and have a high premium, especially Morgan Dollars that were struck there.
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.
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.
External links
Media related to Carson City Mint at Wikimedia Commons
- Carson City Mint National Archives and Records Administration
- United States Mint, Carson Street, Carson City, Carson City, NV at the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)
| Preceded by Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad last spike |
Nevada Historical Markers 196 |
Succeeded by Arrowhead Trail II |