Revisiting the Carson City Mint with its Coin Collection

1northcoin

YESTERDAY'S VISIT TO THE CARSON CITY MINT

The below linked Playlist begins with a video of the Original Coin Press #1 that minted coins in the Carson City Mint along with a near complete collection of all the Silver and Gold Carson City minted coins.

The second video is filmed in an adjacent room in the original Carson City Mint Building which displays the Silver Set, also made from Nevada gold and silver, that was gifted by the citizens of Nevada in 1916 to the US Navy for use by the newly commissioned USS Nevada. In this video the huge silver 15 gallon punch bowl is seen rotating. It and the 24 surrounding goblets are lined with 18-karat gold.

The third video is a shared walk through the same mint building's Nevada Ghost Town to include an old Assay Office. After the mint closed for minting coins in 1893 after some 21 years, the building continued to be used as a US Assay office until 1933. The Mint Building itself is haunted and there are multiple reportings of super natural occurrences that have been experienced within its walls.

Link to Playlist of the above described Carson City Mint building Videos:

(Each video should play in succession one after the other. If the link takes you to a menu for the Playlist then click "Play All" and then each of the three short videos will play one after another.)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLtb5zi734BfZfqgukYMgO2dI8QlAIj9AA

Each time I return to visit the Carson City Mint building which is now a part of the Nevada State Museum I learn something new. In this exhibit regarding the Morgan Silver Dollar that was minted there I learned that the model for the coin was a school teacher:

And here is the gold part of the impressive collection of minted Carson City coins on display in the vault that opens to the room that houses still operable Coin Press #1. The collection was put together by Norm Biltz who after he arrived in Nevada in 1927 developed Reno and Lake Tahoe.

(Notably this appears to be a complete collection of each 5, 10 and 20 gold coin minted at the Carson City Mint during its operation from 1870 to 1893. In addition six denominations of silver coins were minted.)

And of course, the star attraction, the original coin press that has been restored to operating condition and which can be seen minting medallions each Saturday:

And this was the first coin type minted there at the Carson City Mint:

oldabeintx

Thanks for posting this, really enjoyed it. Could you discern the condition of the 70 DE? A rarity in itself worth the visit. I’ll be in the area this fall, hope I can make it to CC.

johnny9434

it sure is nice to see good old machinery like that and some one took the time to care for it

1northcoin

@oldabeintx said:
Thanks for posting this, really enjoyed it. Could you discern the condition of the 70 DE? A rarity in itself worth the visit. I’ll be in the area this fall, hope I can make it to CC.

You are most welcome. It is definitely worn but could be an AU.

1northcoin

Here are some added photos from the Carson City Mint building visit depicting the underground mine that has been recreated there. Reportedly it is the most authentic recreated mine in existence. Many of the items came from the nearby Virginia City mines.

Note the wood cage structure in the third photo. It is a model of a new underground mining safety technique that came into use in the 1860s to alleviate deadly cave ins. The engineer who designed it refused to patent it so that it could be freely used throughout the world to enhance safety for miners. (Something like Volvo having refused to patent their design of an improved seat belt.)

1northcoin

@johnny9434 said:
it sure is nice to see good old machinery like that and some one took the time to care for it

Here is the "rest of the story."

johnny9434

@1northcoin said:

@johnny9434 said:
it sure is nice to see good old machinery like that and some one took the time to care for it

Here is the "rest of the story."

Thank you (and Paul Harvey) 🙂

Copperindian

GREAT thread & very nicely depicted! I’ve toured the old CC Mint/NV State museum several times; there’s always something new (or likely forgotten) from past visits. It never fails to impress. I try & take out of town visitors there whenever opportunity presents itself. Thanks for your posts!

golden

The Carson City Mint Museum is the coolest museum that I have ever visited. I have been there twice.

AUandAG

As a kid growing up in CC, the mine was one of my favorite places in CC. Spent many hours there, dreaming, learning and just being a kid.

Thanks,
bob
PS: the 1870cc dollar was minted on Feb 4th, 1870, not the Feb 11th date as typically reported. This earlier date is supported by Newpaper and Diaries housed in the State Library at UNR.

seatedlib3991

Usually it is the diabetes that makes my mouth dry up. I can't imagine getting into that contraption and being in that pit. my spit dried right up. james

olympicsos

If the West Point Mint ever needs to be replaced, they could build a new mint in Carson City.

1northcoin

Thanks for the responses.

1northcoin

As to the "almost complete" collection of Carson City coins on display, reportedly 109 of the 111 different coins minted there are represented with only the 1873-cc no arrows dime and 1873 no arrows quarter missing.

That makes this a complete collection of all gold coins minted: