Went to the Carson City Mint yesterday.

EagleEye · June 19, 2008 2:26AM

Yesterday I detoured my vacation travel plans and went from Yosemite to San Francisco via Carson City. The family grumbled about the extra drive time, but after we arrived at the Mint they were very impressed with the new museum inside. There are recreations of 1850's era store fronts including an assay office. The kids got a real kick out of the underground mine, which was built in the basement. I got a kick out of the Mint display. There is what looks like a complete set of CC coins on display, but it is in a vault 3 feet away from the viewer so you can't tell anything about the coins on display.

In April I was at the New Orleans Mint and was impressed with their display. I am glad to see numismatic history being given the attention it deserves. I hope the "Granite Lady" here in San Francisco turns out as nice as CC and O did when it is completed.

I had been to CC back in the 1990's but it was closed due to earthquake damage. I was happy to finally get inside.

RYK · June 19, 2008 2:36AM

Rick,

Thanks for the post. I will be traveling in that area this summer and hope to include that in our plans. (I may have to chloroform Mrs. RYK, but whatever it takes!

)

Meltdown · June 19, 2008 2:54AM

From Carson City, take the short drive to Virginia City. It's an old mining town founded from the huge comstock silver cache discovered in the mountains there. The town is still very much original from the late 1800's and there is one bar in particular that has a 20 foot mural of a woman who's dress is made completely out of morgan dollars... It's incredible.

curly · June 19, 2008 3:00AM

Looks like ol' curly is gonna be makin' another trip to Nevada.

ricko · June 19, 2008 3:22AM

Very cool... I have never been there.. would like to go... Cheers, RickO

ziggy29 · June 19, 2008 3:48AM

<< <i>From Carson City, take the short drive to Virginia City. It's an old mining town founded from the huge comstock silver cache discovered in the mountains there. The town is still very much original from the late 1800's and there is one bar in particular that has a 20 foot mural of a woman who's dress is made completely out of morgan dollars... It's incredible. >>

Virginia City is cool. Very touristed, but very cool. I think anyone who is interested in history in general and the history of silver coinage in particular is well-advised to make that detour. IIRC, it's about a 30 minute drive from CC or Reno. Some of the drive is a little steep and/or windy along high cliffs, though, so be forewarned.

mrpotatoheadd · June 19, 2008 3:55AM

BlindedByEgo · June 19, 2008 3:57AM

Thanks for the report. I love that little town!

guitarwes · June 19, 2008 4:03AM

Cool report. Talk to us about the Grantie Lady when you get back.

-wes

keets · June 19, 2008 4:04AM

blu62vette · June 19, 2008 4:05AM

The cc mint and Virginia City are great to see. My last trip to Virginia City last year included a stop at the cemetary. Very interesting place to stop. Some of the shops and bars still have a nice old town feel. Millionaires row has some unique historical houses.

You can also download a podcast a walk the houses behind the mint and get some history of who lived there. A nice shaded walk to stretch the legs. Then go gamble and grab an awful awful burger at the casino.

Rupert305 · June 19, 2008 4:36AM

A few years back before I was collecting coins, my wife and I were on vacation in Reno. We passed through Carson City on our way to Lake Tahoe, on the way back we spent the day in Virginia City. Nice little town reminded me alot of Old Tucson. The picture of the mural on the wall looks familiar but I do not recall seeing it.

SaorAlba · June 19, 2008 4:38AM

Just don't drive to Virginia City on fumes in your gas tank, it is a one service station town and it closes at 5pm. I know because I drove into town on fumes a few years ago, and had to coast all the way back down into the valley to a service station that was still open. At least Virginia City is high in the mtns, so if you make it there you can pretty much coast most of the way back to Carson City.

Sparkle · June 19, 2008 5:13AM

Rick,

There is a temporary exhibit now on display at the Carson City Mint (Nevada State Museum) that was done by a forum member. It's a seven-case exhibit installed on tables in a side room, having to do with the numismatic history of the Comstock region and Carson City. In the museum, it is a room or two away from Coin Press #1. Did you happen to see it? It was prepared for the 2007 ANA show in Milwaukee and will be on loan until August.

Lora

CarlWohlforth · June 19, 2008 5:21AM

I enjoyed visiting the CC mint even though it was under re-construction at the time. I didn't even get to see the collection of CC coins. I had fun anyway. I'm happy to hear the improvements are well received.

lasvegasteddy · June 19, 2008 5:27AM

nice lil stop there rick,

my lil stop there back in 88' caused my moving there.

darn near across the street used to be an ol roundhouse for the trains too

it is quite a lil city that found me living there 12+ years

UtahCoin · June 19, 2008 6:13AM

Hey Rick,
Having lived in Mammoth Lakes for years, SF via CC is NOT a short detour! I hope you stopped for fried chicken at Nicely's in Lee Vining!

BECOKA · June 19, 2008 6:29AM

Thanks for the report,

That is definitely on my short list of places to go.

Tvac897 · June 19, 2008 6:45AM

Watched the video in the response.

notlogical · June 19, 2008 6:47AM

Talk about a great summer vacation!

mrpotatoheadd · June 19, 2008 6:51AM

Postcard picture of the mint from the early 1900s.

Dennis88 · June 19, 2008 7:23AM

I went there last week, and had the same impression as you. It's too bad they have displayed the Norman Blitz collection in that manner, the museum would be much better if the coins were in a better display. The underground mine is indeed very nicely done for kids, and even I liked it

.

Dennis

golfer72 · June 19, 2008 10:44AM

My sister lives in Carson City so i have visited the mint. Virginia City is also fun and i remember seeing wild horses along the mountain road just outside the town. Cool state that Nevada. Oh and there is a small coin shop across from the mint also.

EagleEye · June 19, 2008 1:03PM

Sparkle,
Yes, I did see the exhibit and it was nicely done.

Golfer72,
The coin shop across the street was closed and boarded up. It looks like they are renovating.

I didn't stop by the SF Mint yet but since the ANA two years ago, I doubt there is much difference. At that show I stayed right across the street from the Granite Lady.

We are having great weather in SF and the bay is completely clear! Tommorrow the kids get to be locked up at Alcatraz! Then my wife and I will be free to really enjoy SF! ("Kid"ding, of course) While Tucson is 110 deg., we are quite happy here.

Barry · June 19, 2008 9:25PM

Here are a couple of pics I took at the CC Mint a few years ago:

BobGreene · June 20, 2008 5:59AM

When I was a kid my family and I stayed at a cool old hotel in Virginia City that had one bathroom per floor for all the guests to share. We also went to Sparks and saw the Harrah's automobile collection there, and to Carson City to tour the Mint. This was in the early '70s, so I'm sure it's changed somewhat since then. The mine in the basement seems to have impressed me the most, as that is all I can really remember about the place. I should get back there one of these days.

BobGreene · June 20, 2008 6:02AM

<< <i>Tommorrow the kids get to be locked up at Alcatraz! >>

Fun! Unfortunately, you won't be allowed to leave them there.

blu62vette · June 20, 2008 6:02AM

<< <i>Postcard picture of the mint from the early 1900s.

>>

That is a sign of the times past, a CC mint postcard headed to Bodie. A closed mint and a ghost town.

coachleonard · June 20, 2008 7:06AM

just another chime-in that the carscon city mint and the accompanying museum are well worth the visit. As is a side trip to Virginia City which is a major eye opener when your first come into the city limits-- just kinda hangs off the mountainside. Very cool

Barbercoin · June 21, 2008 6:58AM

On our vacation this spring, my wife and I decided to change our planned route from Reno to Tahoe. We wanted to see Virginia City and Carson City. Boy, are we glad we did. Aside from the rich history in silver, the museum in Carson City was really worth the time. Here are a few pics. Sorry the pictures are sorta out of focus. I had a new camera and didn't know how to take clear pictures through glass.

I tried stopping by the coin store across the street, but they were closed and busy doing their taxes.

Oldnewbie · June 24, 2008 8:58AM

<< <i> The coin shop across the street was closed and boarded up. It looks like they are renovating. >>

This took me by surprise, so I just drove down there. Northern Nevada Coin (Broken CC) has bought the joint and will be selling their less expensive stuff from a true B&M. Joel, the old owner, sold quite a few raw and GSA CC dollars to folks that toured the old mint. The gift store would send him customers. He was there 16 yrs., I'll miss dealing with him.

WTCG · June 24, 2008 9:03AM

There is also a coin show that is held annually in late August or early September at the Carson City Mint. Unfortunately for this year the CC Mint will be undertaking renovations so there is no show this year.

Went to the Carson City Mint yesterday.

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