New Orleans Old US Mint

400 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116 USA

Phone (504) 568-6968

Official page: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us

Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, except public holidays.

Entrance fee: adults $ 6, children under 12 — free.

Director — Rosemary Ewing

 

March 3, 1835 during the last years of Jackson’s presidency, the Congress passed the Act authorizing the construction of the Mint in New Orleans. Besides the fact that the Mint for 71 year has produced gold and silver coins worth more than $ 298,660,707 it also experienced many interesting events with the country.

The author of the project was a known architect William Strickland who gave New Orleans a very beautiful building, which even now, after more than 170 years, has a reputation of one of the most beautiful and prestigious buildings throughout the south.

When completed in 1838, the Mint began the production. Gold was delivered by water from Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, California and other states. After the discovery of gold in California in 1848, the number of coins increased significantly. The greatest number of coins was issued in 1851 and was more than $ 10,000,000.

Starting from 1838 to 1861 the mint was continuously working. In 1861, Louisiana seceded from the United States. By that time, the Mint had a total of $ 40,148,740 in gold coins and $ 29,764,353 in the coins of silver coinage. During its short stay at the Confederation during about a year, the Mint was able to produce coinage in the amount of $ 1,356,136. At the times of the civil war in 1862, it served as headquarters for the Union forces in New Orleans and did not produce coins.

 

The mint survived the civil war, but the equipment was damaged and the reconstructed mint was reopened as early as 1878. For several years it continued working, but by 1909 the mint became out of date, and after the total production of more than $ 300 million of gold and silver coins the last coin was made.

 

Until 1932 the building served as the assay office for the U.S. Treasury, after it became a federal prison until 1943. During the Second World War the building was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard.

After World War II, the Mint had been abandoned for a while, remaining under the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard, and was used as a warehouse.

In 1965, the building was given to the state of Louisiana at no charge, with a demand of its restoration.

Since 1985, the Mint operates as a museum and every year hosts thousands of visitors from around the world.

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