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What is the deal with 1973-1986 West Point Cents?
relayer
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From the US Mint web site
Historical Background: The 'Fort Knox of Silver' and the Newest Mint
Erected in 1937 as the West Point Bullion Depository, this was originally a storage facility for silver bullion and was nicknamed "The Fort Knox of Silver." From 1973 to 1986, West Point produced cents, and in 1980 began striking gold medallions. Shortly afterward, approximately 20 billion dollars worth of gold was stored in its vaults, making it second only to Fort Knox for gold storage. Today, it is also the major producer of gold coins.
The red letter date for West Point was March 31, 1988, when it gained official status as a United States Mint. Today, it is still a storage facility, but also manufactures, packages and ships gold and silver commemorative coins, and American Eagle Bullion coins in proof and uncirculated condition. Its Platinum Eagles have been very popular since their first issuance in 1997. In 2000, it struck the first ever Gold and Platinum Bi-Metallic Coin.
Historical Background: The 'Fort Knox of Silver' and the Newest Mint
Erected in 1937 as the West Point Bullion Depository, this was originally a storage facility for silver bullion and was nicknamed "The Fort Knox of Silver." From 1973 to 1986, West Point produced cents, and in 1980 began striking gold medallions. Shortly afterward, approximately 20 billion dollars worth of gold was stored in its vaults, making it second only to Fort Knox for gold storage. Today, it is also the major producer of gold coins.
The red letter date for West Point was March 31, 1988, when it gained official status as a United States Mint. Today, it is still a storage facility, but also manufactures, packages and ships gold and silver commemorative coins, and American Eagle Bullion coins in proof and uncirculated condition. Its Platinum Eagles have been very popular since their first issuance in 1997. In 2000, it struck the first ever Gold and Platinum Bi-Metallic Coin.
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the late '70's. Coin World lists the dates of coins which were struck
at various mints since 1965 without mint marks.
However, I do wonder about this. During the time that West Point struck circulating coins, they were not officially a Mint. They became a Mint after they had stopped striking coins for circulation. If they were now to strike coins for circulation, would they have to carry a "W" mint mark?
Since they weren't a Mint then, I think the Secret Service should confiscate all of the cents West Point produced
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As for whether or not they would have to use a W mintmark if they were to start striking circulation coins again, it would probably be an internal decision of the Mint Bureau. Even though they are now officially a Branch Mint, they still don't put the W mark on all of their products.
That's true, but I was thinking of circulating coinage. During the times that San Francisco and West Point struck coins for circulation without a mint mark, neither was a branch Mint. San Francisco had been "demoted" to an assay office, and West Point was (I think) a bullion depository. My thinking is that if West Point were to strike coins now for circulation (as a branch Mint) the coins would have to carry a "W" mint mark. But then again, I suppose a law could be passed that would require them to carry an "XYZ" mint mark, for that matter. Or it could be decided that way as an internal decision, as you said.
<< <i>West Point also struck quarters for circulation without a mint mark in
the late '70's. Coin World lists the dates of coins which were struck
at various mints since 1965 without mint marks. >>
There were centesimos for Panama stuck there between 1974 and 1980, as well.