The Old San Francisco Mint, is it worth the visit?

Walmann · January 30, 2009 3:39AM

Will be out in San Fran in a week, has anyone been to the Old Mint and if so is it worth the time to see?

Being there during the period the Lincoln commerative is being released was hoping the Mint had a shop to purchase from out there, from what I read the operational Mint in San Fran is not open to the public and is without a direct sell store. Anyone know if the Old Mint has a store offering current Mint products?

blu62vette · January 30, 2009 3:40AM

I think the old mint was donated to the city and turned into a museum, could be wrong.

Walmann · January 30, 2009 3:43AM

The websites infer there is some type of city committee that was involved with restoration and reopening, but most sites indicate actual ownership is still the Federal Government.
Not very clear what organization owns the building.

coasterfan · January 30, 2009 3:44AM

No, the Old Mint museum was closed many years ago because it was not earthquake safe. It is being refurbished into The Mint Project, scheduled to open in 2012.

The Mint Project

Johnp · January 30, 2009 3:47AM

I have visited the Morgan City Mint and that was very interesting they had the old coin press there to make coins for the kids and it was a great visit had a lot of the history and all the coins I would go if I got close to the San Francisco mint.

blu62vette · January 30, 2009 3:52AM

<< <i>I have visited the Morgan City Mint and that was very interesting they had the old coin press there to make coins for the kids and it was a great visit had a lot of the history and all the coins I would go if I got close to the San Francisco mint. >>

Where is the morgan city mint?

edix2001 · January 30, 2009 3:54AM

I had a nice tour of the Old San Francisco Mint back in 1988. They had a bunch of private gold on display, showed us little movie, walked us around the place inside and we got to strike our own medals for like a dollar or two.

CoinJunkie · January 30, 2009 3:57AM

It's a beautiful old building in a rather seedy section of the city (although an easy walk
from the shopping district on Market St, which is much more upscale). You can't go inside,
but there is a small, new plaza alongside that may have some interest (I haven't checked it
out).

All in all, probably worth making a short detour to view, but not an extended one...

SaorAlba · January 30, 2009 4:15AM

Back when I was a kid in the late 1970's they had a remarkable exhibit of coinage there, and in one of the vaults you could see over $1 Million worth of 400 oz gold bars stacked up. Many of the coins that they had on exhibit were pioneer era gold coins, I remember the $50 slugs etc. Then in the mid 1980's that collection was removed by the people loaning it because of the insurance premiums.

The mint museum closed after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, but there is(was?) a worthwhile Wells Fargo bank museum not too far from there in the Financial district that had some pioneer era gold, stagecoaches etc.

I am not sure if you can do tours of the Federal Reserve Bank in SF anymore, but when I was in High School we took a field trip over there once in my senior year, it was FANTASTIC. Now post 9/11 stuff like that is probably not possible.

Walmann · January 30, 2009 4:35AM

Well it is closed to the general public, only opened to Historical Society Members for tours once a month and rental of some areas.

Guess I'll end up taking the wife to Alcatraz instead.

CoinJunkie · January 30, 2009 4:38AM

<< <i>Guess I'll end up taking the wife to Alcatraz instead. >>

That is well worth the trip, IMO, particularly if the weather is nice. If it isn't,
dress warmly! I'd also recommend renting the audio for the tour.

The Old San Francisco Mint, is it worth the visit?

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