I’ve lived in Philadelphia for 24 years, and this week I visited the United States Mint for the first time. Here’s what I learned about the United States Mint.
1.) The United States Mint is FREE to Visit Every Day
When visiting The U.S. Mint you take a self-guided tour. I went during the WAWA Welcome America Festival because of the Free Museum Days. Turns out, Free Museum Day is every day at the United States Mint. Good to know. Check it out next time you’re in Old City. The United States Mint is right next to the Constitution Center.
They’ve got a great gift shop too with some unique gift options. Everyone likes money, right? I would have taken a bunch of photos, but there is a strict no photography policy at the United States Mint. You’ll just have to take my word for it. They have lots of money themed items: piggy banks, coin capsules, board games, apparel (a cute “Newly Minted” onesie), puzzles and toys. There are also lots of money-themed jewelry pieces. Silver dollar pocket watches, necklaces with coin charms, ornaments and more.
Kristen Herrmann for BBGI2.) The Eagle On Your Coin is Named Peter
Peter the eagle lived at the first United States Mint. It is said that he flew around the city during the day, and then returned to the Mint at night. When Peter died, a taxidermist immortalized him. For centuries, engravers have looked at Peter for details when designing eagles on coins. Find him on the 2nd floor (up the escalator to the right). You can’t miss him. There’s also a very fun Peter the Eagle game HERE on the U.S. Mint website, along with lots of other classroom materials and games for kids.
3.) We’ve Come A Long Way
The first U.S. Mint took 3 years to produce 1 million coins. Today, the U.S. Mint can produce 1 million coins in 30 minutes. I learned this watching the short, 6 minute video on the 2nd floor. Worth the time. A spot to sit down too.
4.) Design Your Own Coin
There’s a spot on the self-guided tour where you have the opportunity to design your own coin. I recommend it. It’s fun. Pick a theme (in honor of pets, rescue groups, reptiles, sea creatures ect…), a symbol (cat, dog, firefly, horse, octopus), a year, and a motto for your coin (phrases like: “If you can dream it, you can do it.”, “Live what you love.”, “Everything you can imagine is real.”, and “Work hard, play hard.”
5.) The Press
The press churns out 750 new coins every minute, which is more than 12 coins per second. The force required to strike a nickel is equivalent to 3 high-speed trains, or the weight of sixteen 7,000 pound elephants .
6.) Edges
The edge of a coin is called the collar. Dimes, quarters and half dollars have ridged edges because they were once made of silver. Those coins still have ridged edges today, but only because of tradition and ease of recognition.
7.) 7 Steps to the Coining Process
Art – Artistic design is the first step in the coining process.
Die Making – The die shop makes the tools that strikes the coins.
Blanking – Round blanks are punched out of medal strips using extreme force.
Annealing and Upsetting – Where the blanks are prepared for striking.
Striking – Where the design is added.
Inspecting – Checking each batch to ensure it meets U.S. Mint quality standards.
Or in other words – assuring that the quality of all coins, medals, and products that are produced at the U.S. Mint are in… wait for it…. “mint condition”!
Bagging – The finished coins are packaged for their journey to the Federal Reserve banks.
8.) Not Yet Legal Tender
You can’t spend the newly minted money. Coins are not considered legal tender until the United States Mint issues them to the federal reserve. Until then, the coins are just considered product like anything else made in a factory. The average lifespan of circulating coin is 30 years, while paper money usually lasts an average of 5 years.
9.) Not Just Money at the United States Mint
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I only ever thought of the U.S. Mint as producing money. Not medals. I never considered where things like Indian Peace Medals, or Presidential Medals or Congressional Medals are made. Turns out, they’re made right here in Philadelphia. Pretty cool. Each President is presented with a bronze medal. I learned that the U.S. Mint works with each administration to design and create the official medal for the President of the United States. It takes as long as it takes. There are no set timetables and it can take several years before the medal for the President is approved and struck.
10.) Vending Machines
In 1888 the first coin operated vending machines in the U.S. were installed in New York City subway stations. They dispensed Tutti Frutti and Black Jack Gum.
Great First Visit
Overall, 10 out of 10. Happy I finally visited the United States Mint, and will likely visit again. The security guard said that if you come earlier in the day, there is more action going on down on the factory floor. As it was, I learned a lot of new information, and saw a bunch of shiny sparkly coins dumping out of a tube into a bin. That was cool enough for me. The gift shop itself is worth a visit.