The Denver Mint officially opened on February 1, 1906 --- 0

[RWB]

...but not without a little confusion. First coins off the presses were 40,000 quarters, delivered on the 15th. These were followed 12 days later by half dollars all of which were in demand as the first locally coined money of any kind since the Clark, Gruber & Co. days. But the new mint's real purpose was striking gold mined in the upper Midwest.

As with any new enterprise there were a few bugs (or maybe prairie dogs) to get out of the system. In this instance, the "prairie dogs" had dug a big hole into gold coinage accounts, and the mint director wanted explanations. Read through this carefully -- you'll find errors on both ends of the discussion.

["Coins struck" normally includes defective pieces, so that the delivery quantity is nearly always less than those struck. But a delivery might include more pieces is some had been withheld from a prior delivery.]

Edited March 18 by RWB