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New Orleans Mint: Report of my visits: Part I
RYK
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In the last three weeks, I was fortunate to have two opportunities to visit the New Orleans Mint. Some of you might know that I am a collector of New Orleans gold, so these visits were especially significant for me.
My first vist was two weeks ago. I was in New Orleans for a medical convention, and I spent a lunch break with Greg Lambousy, the director of the Louisiana State Museum, which "operates" the Mint as a museum. The purpose of this visit, was to look at the Mint archives. I was hoping to find original letters, ledgers, etc. There were none. The Mint had a two inch stack of manilla folders which contained various articles, newspaper clippings, and promotional material. There was no "primary" research material, which I was hoping to find. I copied everything that I could and will go over the documents when I have the chance. The two most interesting things I learned were:
1. The Hanging of Mumford: In 1862, the city of New Orleans was re-taken by Union forces, and a US flag was raised at the Mint, prior to the official surrender of the city. A small cadre of men, led by a ne'er-do-well named Mumford, took down the flag, paraded it around the French Quarter, and then tore it to shreds. The US Army Marines, in a display of force and foreboding, hung Mumford at the entry of the Mint, precisely under the flagpole from which he and the others took the flag. There are several 19th century newspaper references to this event, which appeared to remain in the lore of New Orleans and the Mint into the early 20th century. He was considered to be a Confederate martyr, and there were legends about his ghost haunting the Mint and/or the French Quarter.
2. The Looting of the Mint in 1861: In an article form the Numismatist in 1994, author Tom Hoke makes a compelling argument that all but proves that the Johnson Kelly Duncan, the Superintendent of the New Orleans Mint from Jan 1 to March 11, 1861, was able to obfuscate the Mint's holdings to both the US Federal government and the State of Louisiana and make off with several hundred thousand dollars in 1861-O $20's and half dollars. He later died while serving the Confederate Army and no such hoard has ever been discovered.
Part II, my actual tour of the Mint, will be reported separately.
My first vist was two weeks ago. I was in New Orleans for a medical convention, and I spent a lunch break with Greg Lambousy, the director of the Louisiana State Museum, which "operates" the Mint as a museum. The purpose of this visit, was to look at the Mint archives. I was hoping to find original letters, ledgers, etc. There were none. The Mint had a two inch stack of manilla folders which contained various articles, newspaper clippings, and promotional material. There was no "primary" research material, which I was hoping to find. I copied everything that I could and will go over the documents when I have the chance. The two most interesting things I learned were:
1. The Hanging of Mumford: In 1862, the city of New Orleans was re-taken by Union forces, and a US flag was raised at the Mint, prior to the official surrender of the city. A small cadre of men, led by a ne'er-do-well named Mumford, took down the flag, paraded it around the French Quarter, and then tore it to shreds. The US Army Marines, in a display of force and foreboding, hung Mumford at the entry of the Mint, precisely under the flagpole from which he and the others took the flag. There are several 19th century newspaper references to this event, which appeared to remain in the lore of New Orleans and the Mint into the early 20th century. He was considered to be a Confederate martyr, and there were legends about his ghost haunting the Mint and/or the French Quarter.
2. The Looting of the Mint in 1861: In an article form the Numismatist in 1994, author Tom Hoke makes a compelling argument that all but proves that the Johnson Kelly Duncan, the Superintendent of the New Orleans Mint from Jan 1 to March 11, 1861, was able to obfuscate the Mint's holdings to both the US Federal government and the State of Louisiana and make off with several hundred thousand dollars in 1861-O $20's and half dollars. He later died while serving the Confederate Army and no such hoard has ever been discovered.
Part II, my actual tour of the Mint, will be reported separately.
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Specializing in 1854 and 1855 large FE patterns
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Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
(Both would probably stomp you into the ground!)
Check out the Southern Gold Society
There was also a coin store there that had various slabs, as well as proof sets, etc. Think that the seller was Coin Vault?
I was quoting the newspaper article from 1873. Sorry, if I offended any servicemen.
Robert, for more research on the subject, try here CIVIL WAR MUSEUM
A good friend of mine was instrumental in this and I know he had done quite a bit with regards to the N.O. Mint
Tom
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
Ken
It was actually a special tour since it was after hours at the time I was visiting but they made a special allowance to let me view it (oh the advantage of being a coin dealer)....
I love the history and feel of the place, but felt that so much more could be done with it....Mint is probably great for the average person but not so great for the advance collector expecting so much......the upstairs is actually a jazz museum interesting as well ....guess they had to do this to keep the numbers up .....the shop was typically tourist / museum items......if you visit make sure you spend some time across the street at cafe du monde and get an order of beignets! PS: Also a couple of nice coin shops and antique shops in the quarter that are worth spending time at!
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Thank You
SilverDollar
<< <i>....the Superintendent of the New Orleans Mint from Jan 1 to March 11, 1861, was able to obfuscate the Mint's holdings to both the US Federal government and the State of Louisiana and make off with several hundred thousand dollars in 1861-O $20's and half dollars. He later died while serving the Confederate Army and no such hoard has ever been discovered. >>
Imagine some dude wielding a metal detector finding this stash in the woods some day!
Thank you!
Photos of the 2006 Boston Massacre