Alex in PA.

Who?

Last I heard no the mint was not doing tours.
Yep we each got one blank cent planchet.  

I would only go if they gave out free samples. 

The US Mints were among the most popular tourist attractions in Philadelphia and San Francisco. They were not only similar to many factories, but they held unimaginable wealth that people could see being handled as if it were blocks of scrap metal.

The 1880s were an especially rich period for newspaper articles about the mints and for photos of operations. Although most photos were awful - poor lighting, blurring, lens flare, limited dynamic range, posed rather than candid - publications had prints made, and illustrators then copied and "improved" them into the engravings commonly seen in publications of the time. (Compare Johnston's photo originals to illustrations made from them.)

George G. Evans was able to gain a virtual concession at the Philadelphia Mint. His book on the mint was sold to visitors on-site just as were proof sets, dime-size Lord's Prayer tokens and other souvenirs. Except for proof sets and Mint medals, the "Conductors" split the profits on books and tokens. This resulted in some overly aggressive selling, and letters of complaint. Here's an example from May 26, 1885.


Complaint has been made that a guide who conducts visitors through the Mint Building presents a medal made for the Louisville Exposition which he claims to be gold and gives to visitors, but to those only who purchase a book [Evans'] which he offers for sale.

As the Conductors are paid for their services they ought not to annoy visitors by importuning them to buy articles in their possession they may have for sale; and if on inquiry you find any cause for the complaint, please take such action to prevent it as you deem for the interests and reputation of the service.
It is not widely known among coin collectors, but the San Francisco Mint had a nice cabinet of locally produced coins and private gold pieces, plus a full set of U.S. Mint medals on display along with ore samples from western states. Records, if they still exist, are at NARA San Bruno.

Here's a letter about the number of visitors for FY 1896 at Philadelphia:

Philadelphia
June 30, 1896
The number of persons from all parts of the United States, and in fact the World, who
have visited, and have been escorted through the Mint, and witnessed the coining of money, and
the other work done under your supervision, during the Fiscal year, ending 30th June were One
hundred and five thousand, three hundred and eighty four, 105,384.

The number of collectors -- the demand -- is often as important as the supply (pop census). 

What some have to say makes sense but................
Morgan dollars in rolls.  How many disappointments have there been that opened these, so called, OBW rolls of Morgans to find 2 CC on the ends and in between.?  Now, I have it on good authority, that there exists original bags of Morgano dollars.

There are some good reasons that you do not see wholesalers dumping large amounts of rolls or coins into the retail market.  For one that is not their role in the market, and secondly it would crash the Morgan market.   Yes there are not likely to be huge hordes of rare old gold, or 1700's bust dollars, however a few pockets here and there will continue to surface randomly.   But there are already too many Morgan dollars available, more than the market can currently absorb in reality.   Even the "rare" dates and CC dollars are not difficult to locate in the market now, and there is already a surplus of most coins.   It is no secret that a complete set (or very close to) of Morgan dollars could be put together at any large show.   So if all the GSA's, CC's, and 81-S's that are being held on the sidelines were introduced into the market an already saturated market would crash.

You know, if some of this is true, why do we not see these "rolls of CC's" up for sale?  Or maybe we do, eh?
1878-1893 GEM BU CC Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar $ From OBW Roll Estate Sale  (seller 295+ negatives)
RARE Binion's Horseshoe Las Vegas $20 Dollar Roll Casino POKER WORLD SERIES '60s  (seller says "“Opening it is totally at the risk of the buyer. We do not recommend opening the roll as the value ”... Read more)  No retunds

Yes it is worth one red cent. 

Not going, I have not and would never spend the money to go to a show I could not drive to, I would have nothing left to spend.   And now with the price of fuel I would not even drive to a show.

Gold is purty and warm to the touch.  

"Two eyes, four eyes, six eyes, a spider.
All for arachnids sit down beside 'r."
(From the "Little Miss Muffet" cheerleading handbook..)
 

Newly found OR not worth much $$$.  Most valuable coins above their metallic content have been graded and certified by now.
Not all....most. 
 

LOL, ask the Switt family how that turns out for you!

Gold is purty and warm to the touch.  

Well today a coin I have been waiting for came in  a 1939 S Reverse of 40 MS 64 FS well actually two coins the other one is a 2013 D MS66 FS a nice coin for the collection. The 39 S R 40 is something I have been searching for. That coin is kinda of a pricy coin that luckily I got for a song so I am a happy camper.    

The price of gold makes every large coin, like the double eagle ($20, expensive now. The $2.50 coins offer a chance to get a higher grade, more attractive coin for less money. I have also seen some conservative grading for them. 
This 1905 quarter eagle is in an MS-63 holder. It's well under $1,000, but, of course, you are getting a lot less gold. 

Hello Steve,
I've looked into this and you expressed your financial status to Scott and at that time the decision was made to send the coins back to you ungraded.  You were not charged the grading fees, only the return shipping charges.
Thank you,
Lisa

There are those who are more 'opinionated' than others.  

Gold is purty and warm to the touch.  

I am a beginner gold collector, and just picked up my first gold coin. I can’t say where I purchased it and quite honestly my German is pathetic so I only got part of it. How would you suggest I store it? I can’t find a flip or air-tite case to fit. Do you think NGC would slab this one? What do you think the grade is? Do you think NGC would rat me out, or are they cool with coins like this??

Wrong details, wrong thickness, etc. -- at least the eagle is flying in the correct direction.

You know, I'm a pretty nice guy.  I'm sitting here "average Joe American" just minding my own business.  This whole Chinese Communist Party (CCP) thing, from the Red Death China virus (how many Americans did they kill? No Murder!!) to counterfeit coins and EVERYTHING in between, is starting to P_SS me off!! 
Semper Fi

You pretty much just did. Seriously. 

Nailed it!!