Swung by the Philly Mint Today

KiltedOne

Was in Philly today for business that finished up early, so since it was such a beautiful day, I decided to walk the few blocks to the mint and see what was happening. There was no line, and probably 10-12 family 'units' taking the self guided tour. The Mint Cops looked board out of thier minds!

Took the tour myself as I wanted to see what was going on down on the production line. Well, that was as dead as the rest of the place. There was nothing really going on with the exception of the large medals minted on the far end of the floor. There were also several dozen huge containers of Lincoln Cents piled up in the storage area - but that was pretty much it. Probably about 4 workers down on the floor in total.

Finished up the tour by compulsively buying a few items at the mint shop – a 2008 Presidential Proof Set and a Mint Sewn Bag of 100 Peace Medal Nickels. Also fed a few bucks in the change machine for a handful of Guam quarters to end the visit on a good note.

Brian

SanctionII

Did you check to see if the Mint still has a "Cashier's Window"?

If it did, I would have been tempted to walk up to it and ask the employee behind the window if they can and would exchange a gold 1895 Liberty Double Eagle for one of the ten 1933 Double Eagle's the Mint is holding onto:D

itsnotjustme

I would have offered a 1904 MS63 Saint for a box each of 2009-P Jefferson Nickels and dimes....I might even offer to trade face for face, circulated Saints for new Roosies and Jeffs! (As long as I can sell before the bubble bursts)

LanLord

<< <i>I would have offered a 1904 MS63 Saint for a box each of 2009-P Jefferson Nickels and dimes....I might even offer to trade face for face, circulated Saints for new Roosies and Jeffs! (As long as I can sell before the bubble bursts) >>

If you had an 04 saint that would be something seriously rare

DBSTrader2

Anyone know?

Does the shop at the Philly Mint have a "special" change machine where you can exchange quarter-for-quarter to get the most recent (Guam) quarters, or is it a regular one where you feed in dollar bills and get Guam quarters (or whatever the most recent release is) out? And is there any limit posted on the machine or in the store?

I am SOOOOOOO frustrated with the policy at the Fed building nearby. Based on a post by another Forum member, I went there one of the few days I actually go into work vs telecommute, and walked the mile plus downtown to the Fed, hoping to get a roll or two and some loose ones to continue my & my kids' Whitman folder & roll collections. None of the local banks are getting the Territory quarter rolls in anymore. The other Forum member was offered rolls if he wanted them, and was able to feed in quarter after quarter in the "exchange" machine, if need be.

When I went down there and unloaded my pockets of all objects and passed thru the heavy security process, I was met with no available rolls, a machine that jammed the first visit & stern matrons who make you feel like you're breaking the law if you hit the machine for more than their 4-coin-exchange limit!!

It's not like they had a crowd there that would have them running out anytime soon or anything...... I felt like a slimeball just trying to get about 2 dozen total quarters ( a whole six bucks' worth!!) to fill our holes & trade with another Forum member P's-for-D's..............................

If I can just go over to the Mnt and put in a few bills and get what I need without all this insanity, I'd rather do that.....

Can anyone answer my question? Thanks in advance!!

- - call me "sick-and-tired-of-the-Fed-and-its-practices" Dave.........


After this year, I'm giving up. It'll all be from circulation as they become available for the "National Parks" quarters..... no more of this roll stuff........

edix2001

If it is like the Denver Mint and the Denver Mint shop, then the machine takes in dollar bills and shoots out the newest version of the quarter (or dollar coin, as is appropriately indicated).

KiltedOne

At the Philly mint, just outside of the gift shop by the escalator is a change machine. The machine had a sign that basically said you could feed dollar bills in for four current quarters (Guam) or a $5 or $10 bill and get the current Pres dollar coins. There was no limit posted.

DBSTrader2

Thanks, Ed & Brian! The Philly Mint it is, then, when the next territorial quarters come out (Solomon Islands?)

Will I have to wait in a line or have my pockets checked just to go to that change machine outside the coin shop, or first go on the tour, or can I go straight to the shop/machine?

- - Dave

KiltedOne

You still have to go through the line and the security checkpoint (metal detector) to get into the building. I tried the "just going to the gift shop" the last time I was there when the line was about 100 people long -- didn't work

The tour is self guided - so you do not have to take it. The tour loops around the third floor, with lots of wall displays and a few artifacts related to minting, as well providing several viewing windows that look down on to the production floor. You are pretty high up, so you won't see much detail, but it is pretty cool to see all of the stuff anyway.

But, on the second floor, just above the gift shop, there is an awesome display of Bullion and Modern / Classic commemoratives that is really worth checking out. There are some beautiful MS examples of classic commemoratives that any collector would love to add to their collection. I had not really been into commemoratives prior to viewing the display, but it has peaked my collecting interest and I am seriously considering learning more about them and acquiring a few and expanding my collection. The only commemorative available at the gift shop was the Braille Silver Dollar, and I did pass on that as I do not find the coin particularly attractive.

Good luck.

DBSTrader2

I've taken the tour about 2 times in my life, and it is a bit of a pain to look down thru the small windows all that distance to see next to nothing or little activity, unfortunately.

I DO like the old collection of coins they used to (and still may) have. It's been a number of years.

So I'll head over there one of these days.

Thanks again for the updates!

- - Dave

cladking

Interesting thread... ...even if it is a little depressing.

Snowman24

i can see why the mint was dead after the July's mintage report

Phil Mint only made 151 million pennies and almost 2 million Pres dollars
from June mintage report

and THATS IT !!!

Hyperion

I admire the productions but it really is just a machine shop, no?

Im just outside of philly and haven't ever considered visiting. now, I probably have to!