Carson City Mint facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Mint
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Carson City Mint at night
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| Location | 600 N. Carson St. Carson City, Nevada |
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| Architect | Alfred Bult Mullett |
| NRHP reference No. | 75002127 |
| Added to NRHP | September 5, 1975 |
The Carson City Mint was a special factory that made money for the United States. It was located in Carson City, Nevada. This mint mostly made silver coins. But it also made gold coins. The total value of the gold coins was almost the same as the silver ones. This mint made coins for 21 different years.
The Carson City Mint was planned in 1863. However, it did not start making coins until 1870. It worked until 1885, then took a break. It started again in 1889 and closed for good in 1893. Today, the building is the Nevada State Museum, Carson City.
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History of the Carson City Mint
The Carson City Mint was built when silver mining was very popular. It was placed close to a big silver mine called the Comstock Lode. Between 1870 and 1893, the mint made many silver and gold coins. These coins had a special "CC" mark on them. This mark showed they were made in Carson City.
The mint was built to turn silver from the Comstock Lode into coins. This was similar to how the San Francisco Mint made gold coins. The San Francisco Mint used gold from the California Gold Rush. After the Carson City Mint closed, the building was used as an Assay Office. This office tested gold and silver from 1895 to 1933.
In 1939, the U.S. government sold the building to the state of Nevada. Coins made here, especially Morgan dollars, are quite rare today. Coin collectors really want them and pay a lot for them.
Building Design and Use Today
The building for the mint was the first one designed by Alfred B. Mullett. He was the main architect for the U.S. Treasury. The person in charge of building it was Abraham Curry. He is known as the "Father of Carson City." The building looks simple but strong. It has stone walls, round-headed windows, and a front porch.
Even though the mint stopped making U.S. coins in 1893, it still has its original coin press. This machine is called Coin Press No. 1. It is still in the building today. It is used to make special collector's medals. These medals also have the "CC" mint mark. Recently, it made medals to celebrate the museum's 75th anniversary.
Plans for New Commemorative Coins
In 2019, a plan was suggested to make new special coins. These would be Morgan and Peace dollars. If the plan passes, these coins would be made at the Nevada State Museum in 2021. They would also have the "CC" mint mark. This would be the first time in 128 years that legal coins have this mark. It would also be the first time a Peace dollar has the "CC" mark.
Many coin collectors support this idea. The American Numismatic Association has asked collectors to show their support. However, some collectors are worried. They think that only 500,000 of these new coins might be made.
Coins Made at Carson City
The Carson City Mint made many different types of coins. Each coin had a specific value.
Silver Coins
- Seated Liberty dime (1871–1878)
- Twenty-cent piece (1875–1876)
- Seated Liberty quarter (1870–1878)
- Seated Liberty half dollar (1870–1878)
- Seated Liberty dollar (1870–1873)
- Trade dollar (1873–1878)
- Morgan dollar (1878–1893)
The very first coin made at Carson City was a Seated Liberty dollar.
Gold Coins
- Half eagle or $5.00 gold (1870–1884 and 1890–1893)
- Eagle or $10.00 gold (1870–1884 and 1890–1893)
- Double eagle or $20.00 gold (1870–1885 and 1889–1893)
Images for kids
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The Carson City Mint in 1866
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As seen from across Carson Street in 2007
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At night
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The CC mint mark on a Liberty half eagle
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A Seated Liberty quarter minted at Carson City
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