Everyone else has a flag pole-Why not the Philadelphia Mint?

1630Boston

Zoins

It seems like Charlotte, Denver, and Helena didn't have a flag for a long time, so it wasn't just a Philadelphia thing.

I wonder if there was a Presidential or other directive to install US flags at government agencies at the time.

1895 is leading up to the Span-Am War.

1630Boston

Could be @Zoins

CaptHenway

I hope it got moved to the Third Philadelphia Mint just a few years later.

BuffaloIronTail

Almost every building of any stature back then had a flag pole.

Go figure. GEEZE. It's only just a Government building in Philadelphia, after all.

Pete

ernie11

The standard photo that I see of the Second Mint Building here in Philly, I am unable to see any flagpole in front of it, unless that white line above the triangular pediment over the columns is a flagpole, I can't tell. City Hall is in the background, and that means this was a late 1800's / early 1900's photo. It's possible they waited until the Third Mint Building out on Spring Garden Street to put up a flagpole. Of course, the card is titled "Old United States Mint". so maybe this building was abandoned by this time and the flagpole removed.

1630Boston

Edwin Lamazure's 1920 painting depicts how the first US Philadelphia Mint may have appeared, circa 1817. Public domain image.

1630Boston

The second Philadelphia mint, as depicted in an 1840 lithograph by J.T. Bowen. Public domain image.

While the second Philadelphia Mint continued to churn out an ever increasing number of coins, it saw the nation's population grow from 13 million to 76 million by 1900, boosted by waves of immigrants in search of better lives in the United States. As early as 1891, Congress realized the mint's capacity would eventually be outstripped by demand. In 1901, a new facility, the third Philadelphia Mint, was ready to begin coining operations.

Second Philadelphia Mint
The second Philadelphia Mint as it appeared in 1902, shortly before it was demolished. City Hall is seen behind the mint building. Image courtesy of Library of Congress.
The second Philadelphia Mint was sold in 1902 and razed the following year. As the demolition proceeded, workmen discovered the long ago forgotten cornerstone buried in 1833. The cornerstone contained a candy jar with a petrified cork. The jar held three coins, a couple of newspapers, and a scroll providing sketchy information on the first mint and the creation of the second. As the final pile of rubble was carted away, the second Philadelphia Mint sadly passed into history.

1630Boston

The third Philadelphia Mint was built at 1700 Spring Garden Street and opened in 1901.

1630Boston

Perhaps they never installed it at the second PA mint??

Namvet69

I think it's weird that someone needs permission to buy and display an American flag. Just do it! Peace Roy

MedalCollector

There is a somewhat clumsy contraption of a flagpole in Paquet’s depiction of the building on the Ross medals. I believe it was originally engraved in the 1860s or 1870s.

1630Boston

.> @GoldenEgg said:

There is a somewhat clumsy contraption of a flagpole in Paquet’s depiction of the building on the Ross medals. I believe it was originally engraved in the 1860s or 1870s.

Very nice research, perhaps that was a makeshift pole until they received permission to build one
or perhaps that WAS the flagpole that they installed.

dbldie55

I recall seeing flag poles in Helena

ernie11

@1630Boston said:

The third Philadelphia Mint was built at 1700 Spring Garden Street and opened in 1901.

This building is still there, it is used as part of Community College of Philadelphia.

Coinosaurus

I see the bureaucratic struggle hasn't changed much since 1895.

ricko

Such information portrays the nitty gritty of bureaucracy that grows year over year. I always laugh when potential for a government shutdown (usually congressional funding) is discussed and the term 'essential' is bandied about. I would say that roughly (my estimate only) 75% of this massive entity called government is non-essential and a waste of money. That being said, it will not change, and it will continue to grow. Cheers, RickO

1630Boston

@ricko I agree