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Philadelphia Mint: Difference between revisions
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{{More references needed|date=August 2023}} | {{More references needed|date=August 2023}} | ||
The '''Philadelphia Mint''' is a branch of the [[United States Mint]] in | The '''Philadelphia Mint''' is a branch of the [[United States Mint]] in Philadelphia. It was built in 1792 following the [[Coinage Act of 1792]], in order to establish a national identity and the needs of commerce in the [[United States]], and is the first and oldest national mint facility. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
=== First building (1792–1833) === | === First building (1792–1833) === | ||
[[Image:Ye Olde Mint,1792.jpg|thumb|The first Philadelphia Mint, built in 1792, photographed in 1908, and later demolished]] | [[Image:Ye Olde Mint,1792.jpg|thumb|The first Philadelphia Mint, built in 1792, photographed in 1908, and later demolished]] | ||
The [[Coinage Act of 1792]] entered into law on April 2, proclaiming the creation of the [[United States Mint]]. | The [[Coinage Act of 1792]] entered into law on April 2, proclaiming the creation of the [[United States Mint]]. Philadelphia at that time was the nation's capital, and the first mint facility was built there. [[David Rittenhouse]], an American scientist, was appointed the first director of the mint by President [[George Washington]]. Two lots were purchased by Rittenhouse on July 18, 1792, at Seventh Street and 631 Filbert Street in Philadelphia for $4,266.67. The next day, demolition of an abandoned whiskey distillery on the property began.{{sfn|Young|1903|p=7}} Foundation work began on July 31; by September 7, the first building was ready for installation of the smelting furnace. The smelt house was the first public building erected by the [[Federal government of the United States|United States government]]. | ||
A three-story brick structure facing Seventh Street was constructed a few months later. Measuring nearly {{convert|37|ft|m|abbr=on}} wide on the street, it only extended back {{convert|33|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The gold and silver for the mint were contained in basement vaults. The first floor housed deposit and weighing rooms, along with the press room, where striking coins took place. Mint official offices were on the second floor, and the [[assay]] office was located on the third floor. A photograph of the Seventh Street building taken around 1908 show that by then, the year 1792 and the words "Ye Olde Mint" (in quotes) had been painted onto the facade. | A three-story brick structure facing Seventh Street was constructed a few months later. Measuring nearly {{convert|37|ft|m|abbr=on}} wide on the street, it only extended back {{convert|33|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The gold and silver for the mint were contained in basement vaults. The first floor housed deposit and weighing rooms, along with the press room, where striking coins took place. Mint official offices were on the second floor, and the [[assay]] office was located on the third floor. A photograph of the Seventh Street building taken around 1908 show that by then, the year 1792 and the words "Ye Olde Mint" (in quotes) had been painted onto the facade. | ||