Why was the New Orleans mint shut down?
Bayard1908
Posts: 4,176 ✭✭✭✭
Just wondering.
0
Bayard1908
Posts: 4,176 ✭✭✭✭
Comments
It was not economical to run all of those branch mints, when the production could be done centrally and the transportation was cheap.
This is mostly a guess; I really do not know. However, the transportation network was dramatically improving around this time.
Oh, yeah. You mean the second time it shut down.
I guess adamlaneus' theory sounds as good as any to me?
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
After that incident folks just couldn't go back into the facility. They found it too horrible and many were convinced it was haunted. In short order they closed up the doors and called it quits officially.
This what wikipedia says
"Closure
By the early twentieth century, the U.S. Treasury had mints operating in New Orleans, Denver, San Francisco, and the main center in Philadelphia, which more than met the demand for minted money. In 1904, the government ceased the minting of the silver dollar, which accounted for the bulk of the coinage the New Orleans branch had been producing since 1879. Despite the facility's years of faithful service, in 1909 Treasury officials halted minting activity in New Orleans by simply refusing to appropriate funds for its operation.[26] In 1911, the New Orleans Mint was formally decommissioned and the machinery was transferred to the main U. S. Mint facility in Philadelphia,[27] a sad event that stuck in the minds of Louisianans. Twenty years later, in 1930, Governor Huey Long would rail against this loss when he ran for the office of U.S. Senator against incumbent Joseph E. Ransdell. In a circular distributed by his campaign to the citizens of New Orleans, Long listed the loss of the Mint as the very first of many complaints against Ransdell's lengthy service record in the Senate. Long went on to win the election, although he did not take office until his term as governor expired in 1932.[28] At some point, however, the original New Orleans machinery was lost, and, at present, has not been located.[29]"
Wiki
Cladiator is that story true
<< <i>Cladiator is that story true >>
Somehow, I think that story was the result of some form of artistic inspiration...
<< <i>That was the plot from the original movie 'The Fly'. Or perhaps the little known and poorly received sequel; 'The Half Eagle'
This what wikipedia says
"Closure
By the early twentieth century, the U.S. Treasury had mints operating in New Orleans, Denver, San Francisco, and the main center in Philadelphia, which more than met the demand for minted money. In 1904, the government ceased the minting of the silver dollar, which accounted for the bulk of the coinage the New Orleans branch had been producing since 1879.....]"
Wiki >>
That certainly makes sense. It was reopened in 1879 to help with the flood of Morgan dollars, and with dollars suspended it made no sense to keep a 70+ year old facility open when there was a new, modern (opened 1900) mint building in Philadelphia and another one in Denver (opened 1906) that could easily handle the dollarless load.
Also, there is the consideration that in 1838 a lot of silver was coming out of Mexico through New Orleans. What was Mexican silver production like in the early 1900's?
TD
Power driven machinery, transportation, advances in chemistry allowing lower grade ores to be processed.
Lots and lots and lots of silver. I believe production increased 50% worldwide between 1900 and 1920.
Mexico specifically, I know less about. Mexico has always been a very strong producer of silver and I suspect their production went up along with everyone else.
<< <i>That was the plot from the original movie 'The Fly'. Or perhaps the little known and poorly received sequel; 'The Half Eagle'
This what wikipedia says
"Closure
By the early twentieth century, the U.S. Treasury had mints operating in New Orleans, Denver, San Francisco, and the main center in Philadelphia, which more than met the demand for minted money. In 1904, the government ceased the minting of the silver dollar, which accounted for the bulk of the coinage the New Orleans branch had been producing since 1879. Despite the facility's years of faithful service, in 1909 Treasury officials halted minting activity in New Orleans by simply refusing to appropriate funds for its operation.[26] In 1911, the New Orleans Mint was formally decommissioned and the machinery was transferred to the main U. S. Mint facility in Philadelphia,[27] a sad event that stuck in the minds of Louisianans. Twenty years later, in 1930, Governor Huey Long would rail against this loss when he ran for the office of U.S. Senator against incumbent Joseph E. Ransdell. In a circular distributed by his campaign to the citizens of New Orleans, Long listed the loss of the Mint as the very first of many complaints against Ransdell's lengthy service record in the Senate. Long went on to win the election, although he did not take office until his term as governor expired in 1932.[28] At some point, however, the original New Orleans machinery was lost, and, at present, has not been located.[29]"
Wiki >>
Hell, This is Louisiana-how do you think the equipment was "lost"? Even our only Heisman trophy winner (the "Gray Ghost" himself) was eventually convicted of counterfeiting- and he was an orthodontist!
-Randy Newman
It did close down in 1909 (the second and final time). Quality control was always a problem with New Orleans struck coins (it probably was because they had people like Boudreau and Thibodeau working there). Might add that the 1909 O Quarters are popular with collectors, due to being coined in the mint's last year of production.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
<< <i>Lordmarcovan - Didn't the mint close down the first time due to the "War of Northern Aggression?"
It did close down in 1909 (the second and final time). Quality control was always a problem with New Orleans struck coins (it probably was because they had people like Boudreau and Thibodeau working there). Might add that the 1909 O Quarters are popular with collectors, due to being coined in the mint's last year of production. >>
Hey, you forgot the X's! That's Boudreaux and Thibodeaux, doggone it! You know, like Geaux Tigers!
My God, Boudreaux and Thibodeaux at the mint- that's classic!
-Randy Newman
<< <i>Lordmarcovan - Didn't the mint close down the first time due to the "War of Northern Aggression?" >>
Yeah, that's it.
That's what I should call it, if I were a more patriotic Southerner. But my father was born in Philly, so I suppose that makes me half-Yankee. Had a great-great- (something like that) uncle who was a general in the War, too. He wore a blue coat, not grey.
And I can't quite get my head around how it was "The War Of Northern Aggression" if we (meaning Southerners) were the ones who fired the opening shots, at Fort Sumter. I guess there was a different rationale involved.
But we digress from N'Awlins. I've never been there, myself. Most of my life has been spent in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
<< <i>Not a whole lot happening at the end... $10 eagles where only minted every 2 years.
Cladiator is that story true
no screw press in use when NO closed...no doubt looted
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>
<< <i>Lordmarcovan - Didn't the mint close down the first time due to the "War of Northern Aggression?" >>
Yeah, that's it.
That's what I should call it, if I were a more patriotic Southerner. But my father was born in Philly, so I suppose that makes me half-Yankee. Had a great-great- (something like that) uncle who was a general in the War, too. He wore a blue coat, not grey.
And I can't quite get my head around how it was "The War Of Northern Aggression" if we (meaning Southerners) were the ones who fired the opening shots, at Fort Sumter. I guess there was a different rationale involved.
But we digress from N'Awlins. I've never been there, myself. Most of my life has been spent in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. >>
It was "The War Of Northern Aggresssion" because we aggressed them upside their haids!!!!!
New Orleans had old machinery, inadequate physical plant and problematical management. The cost of coinage was about 50% greater there than at the other three mints. With improvements in transportation it was cheaper to move coin from Denver to the Midwest and southern states, than to mint it in New Orleans.
New Orleans was the only mint of the four southern facilities to be reactivated after the Civil War. This was done because Congress thought resumption of specie payments would require large amounts of silver coins. However, so much coin was repatriated from Canada that large scale silver coinage was not necessary. The primary thing that kept New Orleans operating was the influx of subsidized silver from the Bland-Allison and Sherman Acts. New Orleans was expected to strike $1,000,000 per month in dollars – which was well beyond the capacity of its annealing furnaces and melting and rolling equipment. Pushing production beyond capacity led to lower quality coins and frequent breakdowns. The two beer drinkers might have had the right idea.
<< <i>Considering what has transpired in the years following the conflict until now, I am not certain either side won or lost. Respectfully, John Curlis >>
One thing is certain though John and that is the federal government won and the Constitution has never been the same since.
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
<< <i>
<< <i>Considering what has transpired in the years following the conflict until now, I am not certain either side won or lost. Respectfully, John Curlis >>
One thing is certain though John and that is the federal government won and the Constitution has never been the same since. >>
That is a great point. If you take away the slavery component, which was obviously morally repugnant, the death of "state's rights" as a concept had an enormous impact on political thought in our country.
-Randy Newman
<< <i>It was "The War Of Northern Aggresssion" because we aggressed them upside their haids!!!!!
An entertaining AND educational thread...
Going back on topic here, is the mint in New Orleans worth a visit? Even when I lived in Louisiana I never ventured to NO.
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
Production of the new Lincoln cent began in June 1909 at Philadelphia. The original plan had all the cents being made there and distributed from Denver and San Francisco. However, transportation time and cost became a factor and SF was authorized to strike cents for the five western-most states. (There is a chart in Renaissance of American Coinage 1909-1915 showing cent distribution by state during 1909.)
New Orleans remained as an assay office.
<< <i>Being that I am mainly of Southern heritage, I will duly offer this commentary with regards Louisiana and New Orleans. Curiously enough until Benjamin "Beast" Butler and his forces occupied the city, there was a rather sizable pro-Union sentiment that existed in the city.
Going back on topic here, is the mint in New Orleans worth a visit? Even when I lived in Louisiana I never ventured to NO. >>
It is definitely worth a visit- I posted a thread shortly after Christmas with my pics from the museum, and Mercury had one as well. It is very well presented, and the building itself is beautiful, with views of the French quarter and Mississippi. Here are a couple of pics I still have:
The Mint:
Some of the exhibits:
-Randy Newman
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Considering what has transpired in the years following the conflict until now, I am not certain either side won or lost. Respectfully, John Curlis >>
One thing is certain though John and that is the federal government won and the Constitution has never been the same since. >>
That is a great point. If you take away the slavery component, which was obviously morally repugnant, the death of "state's rights" as a concept had an enormous impact on political thought in our country. >>
Had nothing to do with slavery though so we have to take that component away, unless one considers the forcing of ALL people to pay the federal government a part of their hard earned living slavery and lincoln was the first to institute such a tax. Some believe he got the idea of such a "heavy progressive income tax" from marx's manifesto which came to light in 1848. I would agree that all forms of slavery are "morally repugnant". ALL forms. Interesting how the very actions required to institute all forms of socialism are steeped in violence but not many people seem to want to talk about that.
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen