The Collection of Historical Records of the Carson City NV. Mint. Various contributors credited. 1 1

[Mike Meenderink]

The Collection of Historical Records of the Carson City NV Mint

 This is the collection of historical records of the US Mint at Carson City, NV. Post any relevant historical information you may have here in a concise meaningful manner. Photos, links, stories, persons, documents, coins or any relevant information related to the Carson City, NV. US Mint. Open forum for the discussion of the mint and supporting industries. Feel free to also ask questions. Thank you for your interest and/or contribution. - Mike                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

U.S. Mint at Carson City. (National Archives)

The Carson City Mint was established by Congress on March 3, 1863, to serve the coinage needs brought about by the Comstock Lode, the largest silver strike in the Nation’s history. Prior to the development of this facility, silver and gold ore mined in the Nevada territory was shipped to San Francisco for processing. However, the costs of shipping and the risk of theft necessitated a branch in the territory.

Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on July 18, 1866. The cornerstone for the new facility was laid on September 18, 1866, but the building was not completed until December 13, 1869. Abraham Curry, founder of Carson City, was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant as its first superintendent. Curry, known as “The Father of Carson City” also supervised the construction of the mint. In 1870, just six years after Nevada entered the Union as the thirty-sixth state, residents enthusiastically welcomed their new mint.

The Carson City Mint, an impressive sandstone structure of the Renaissance Revival period, was designed by architect Alfred B. Mullett the newly-appointed supervising architect for the United States Treasury Department, as well as, the designer of the San Francisco Mint.

Curry oversaw production of the first coins ever minted in Carson City. On February 11, 1870, “Seated Liberty dollars” with the “CC” mintmark rolled off the solitary coin press known as (Press No. 1). During its operation, the Carson City Branch issued 57 different types of gold coins and produced eight coin denominations, including dimes, twenty cent pieces, quarters, halves, Trade dollars, Morgan dollars, five dollar gold pieces, ten dollar gold pieces, and twenty dollar gold pieces.

In 1873, the Carson City Mint experienced its most eventful year when changes were made to the nation’s monetary system, resulting in different varieties of coins being produced. In 1876, the Carson City Mint joined in the nation’s celebration of its 100th birthday (which also coincided with peak production levels on Nevada’s famous Comstock Lode), as more coins were struck than in any other year in the history of the Carson City Mint.

James Crawford served as superintendent of the Carson City Mint for ten years starting in 1874 until his death in 1885. The mint was shut down in 1885 for political reasons and remained closed under a Democratic administration led by President Grover Cleveland from the middle of 1885 until the fall of 1889. In October 1889, coins once again began rolling off the mint’s presses and continued to do so until the spring of 1893, at which time coinage operations ceased for good.

The Carson City U.S. Mint’s formal mint status was withdrawn in 1899 due to the drastic decline in mining on the Comstock. The facility continued to function as an assay office until it closed in 1933. It was sold to the state of Nevada in 1939 for $10,000. Today, it functions as the Nevada State Museum.

The Morgan silver dollar was one of the most popular coins struck at the Carson City Mint. Nearly 2.8 million of the Morgan dollars were distributed in seven successive sales between 1972 and 1980 by the General Services Administration (GSA) in Washington, DC.

Edited Saturday at 10:41 PM by Mike Meenderink

[Mike Meenderink]

 A 3-D tour of the Carson City Mint in HD Click the link>>>   Carson City Mint (Nevada State Museum) - All Around Nevada

Edited June 4 by Mike Meenderink

[Mike Meenderink]

Carson City Mint | U.S. Department of the Treasury   <<<<click link

Edited June 4 by Mike Meenderink

[GoldFinger1969]

That 3-volume set on the Carson Mint is like a magnus opus. 

[Mike Meenderink]

Carson City Bullion receipt dated August 4th 1897

[Mike Meenderink]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          This is a letter from the Carson City Mint secretary L.L. Elwood to R. Keating of The Nevada Bank of Virginia City, confirming a shipment of $2,400 in gold coin via Wells, Fargo Express on February 18, 1892. The note is on Mint of the United States at Carson letterhead.

Edited June 4 by Mike Meenderink

[Mike Meenderink]

Carson City Mint Receipt for 8,800-ounce silver deposit Dated February 18th ,1874

United States Mint, Carson City (printed), February 17th, 1874. Received of F.D. Hetrick, Superintendent U.S. Mint Carson City, 8,892.2 ounces of deposits of silver bullion consisting of No. 172-176. Signed by George W. Bryant, melter and refiner. Printed on blue paper by H.S. Crocker & Co. 5 x 8" Spindle hole, one smudge. Reverse has pencil notations of different hardware including molds and pipes. Frank D. Hetrick was appointed superintendent in 1873. Before arriving at the Carson City Mint as an assayer, Hetrick was an Assistant Assayer and Refiner at the Colorado Mint for 6 years. During the Civil War, he served as a lieutenant in the Ninth Regiment, First Brigade of the Seventh Division. He returned home from the war sick and took a long time to recover (according to the Lafayette Monthly, Vol. 3, 1872). He was appointed superintendent to the Carson City Mint by President Grant following H.F. Rice's resignation. Rice served after Curry, and resigned amid allegations that assays were being altered and that sub-par coins were being minted.

[Mike Meenderink]

Coin press operator Carson City US Mint circa 1870

[Mike Meenderink]

Workers at the Carson City US Mint circa 1873

[Mike Meenderink]

The view from the top of the Carson City NV US Mint.  Circa 1870. The view looks down on the Virgina & Truckee RR Freight Depot with the tracks heading out of town towards Virgina City. 

Edited June 4 by Mike Meenderink

[Mike Meenderink]

Carson City NV US Mint / Assay office moving out for good. Circa 1939. Mint production ceased in 1899 but the facility remained as an assay office until 1939.

Edited June 4 by Mike Meenderink

[Mike Meenderink]

 The 3 most valuable Carson City minted coins                                                                                                                                                        Many collectors only dream of owning a coin with the famed “CC” mintmark, which stands for the Carson City Mint in Nevada. The western mint was operation for a mere 21 years of remarkable Wild West history. Here’s how it all began…

In 1857, Henry Comstock laid claim to what eventually became known as the giant Comstock Lode in Nevada. Many prospectors struck it rich at this lode. Word of the silver discovery spread quickly and with more people came the need for coinage. Soon, demand for a second Mint in the West was strong. 

Nevada was isolated from the rest of the nation.  Transporting raw metal to the San Francisco Mint was challenging and dangerous. The railroads had not yet been built into Nevada, which meant the only way to transport precious metal for processing was on horseback or a mule train. 

In 1870, only six years after Nevada became a state, the historic Carson City Mint opened its door to process the huge amount of silver and gold being mined in the area. The Carson City mint primarily struck silver coins due to the large silver lode nearby. Due to the scarcity of gold coins struck at the Nevada branch mint, all Carson City gold coins are hard to find and avidly sought after by numismatics. Here’s a look at the top three rarest coins produced at the Carson City mint. 

1870-CC Double Eagle

 

 

 

 

For nearly a century, the U.S. produced gold coins worth $20. These “Double Eagle” coins were minted from 1849 to 1933. 

Today, the 1870 Carson City $20 gold coin is the rarest and most valuable Double Eagle in existence. The 1870-CC Double Eagle is also the most famous and highly sought after gold coin struck at the Carson City Mint. This impressive rarity is listed as one of the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins. 

The 1870-CC Double Eagle boasts a miniscule mintage of only 3,789, and there are only 41 known survivors today in all grades. Simply put, there is no such thing as a common Carson City Double Eagle. Every date is considered scarce and valuable. Considering the infrequency that this extreme rarity emerges on the market for sale, it’s no wonder that this owning this coin remains only wishful thinking for most collectors. 

1871-CC Double Eagle

 

 

 

The 1871 Carson City $20 gold coin is only the second double eagle issue from this fabled frontier era mint with a tiny mintage at 17,387. Indeed, the 1871-CC Double Eagle is widely considered to be the second rarest $20 gold coin from the Carson City Mint, after the famous 1870-CC Double Eagle. Legendary numismatic David Akers notably said the 1871 Carson City Double Eagle ranks in the top 15% of all double eagles for overall rarity.

Coins minted in Carson City typically immediately entered circulation as coinage was sorely needed to fuel the growing economy in the region. Because of this, most Carson City survivors are typically well worn and no doubt could tell many tall tales if they could talk of the rough and tumble times in the Wild West.  James Barton Longacre designed this exceptional coin.

1876-CC Twenty Cent Piece

 

 

 

 

Called by some, the “Duke of Carson City coins,” the 1876-CC twenty cent piece is a highly desirable western rarity. The Carson City Mint only produced 10,000 twenty cent pieces—also known as “double dimes”— in 1876. 

As the story goes, in January 1876, the Carson City Mint Cashier reported that he still had 4,261 twenty cent pieces from the previous year in his stock. That represented more than enough to cover circulation demand for some time. So, in May 1877, Mint Director Henry Linderman sent this message to the Carson City Mint. 

“You are hereby authorized and directed to melt all 20-cent pieces you have on hand, and you will debit ‘Silver Profit Fund’ with any losses thereon.”

Thus, a majority of the 1876-CC twenty cent pieces were lost forever. Today survival estimates of these impressive coins in all grades is a tiny 19.

[Henri Charriere]

On 6/4/2024 at 12:50 AM, Mike Meenderink said:

 A 3-D tour of the Carson City Mint in HD Click the link>>>   Carson City Mint (Nevada State Museum) - All Around Nevada

Lovely topic, Mike.  Who doesn't love a CC dollar?  Only one thing... I believe the same culprit(s) may have been involved in stealing this Mint's smokestack as well.  

[RWB]

Posted to wrong thread.

Edited June 4 by RWB

[Mike Meenderink]

On 6/5/2024 at 3:28 PM, Dear1870-CC said:

 

Goldfinger1969

To what 3-volume set on the Carson Mint are you referring?

@GoldFinger1969

[RWB]

On 6/5/2024 at 6:29 PM, Mike Meenderink said:

@GoldFinger1969

The Confident Carson City Coin Collector by Rusty Goe

[Mike Meenderink]

"Downtown" Carson City Nevada, 1863. Corner of 2nd & Carson St with Wells Fargo Stage and half the town crowding in the photo.  Credit: Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection.

[Mike Meenderink]

The California & Consolidated Mining Co. Shaft and Mill. Virgina City, NV 1887. One of the Comstock Lode mining companies that supplied silver and/or gold to the nearby US Mint at Carson City, NV as well as the SF Mint throughout the 1870s and 90s. 

Edited June 6 by Mike Meenderink

[Mike Meenderink]

The "Mexican" Gold Mine Co. circa 1870   Badlands of Virgina City, NV. Another mine that supplied gold to the US Mint at Carson City NV throughout the 1870s -80s.

Edited June 5 by Mike Meenderink

[GoldFinger1969]

Did a large portion of the GOLD and SILVER go from NV to SanFran....or just the gold ?  I know the economics were screwed up, you'd think all of it would go to Carson City but no.

[Mike Meenderink]

On 6/5/2024 at 4:56 PM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Did a large portion of the GOLD and SILVER go from NV to SanFran....or just the gold ?  I know the economics were screwed up, you'd think all of it would go to Carson City but no.

@RWB

[RWB]

On 6/5/2024 at 7:57 PM, Mike Meenderink said:

@RWB

Both. The silver dominated but there was a fair percentage of gold. It cost more to ship to Carson than SF, and SF could easily handle the refining volume - Carson could not.

I'll add that large mine owners did not want payment in coins or bars. SF had authority to issue high value checks or exchange on New York. Carson did not. Mint HQ had to balance all this within the Independent Treasury system. As a practical mint, Carson had no value except political.

Edited June 6 by RWB

[RWB]

More sources for Carson Mint information, 1865-1897.

NARA Record Group 11,

Box 2 Carson
Box 3 Carson
Box 4 Carson
Box 5 Carson-Charlotte

These are available for viewing or download from the NNP site. (If anyone wants the whole lot at once, I can send them to you via Dropbox. Total zip file size is 3.7 gig.)

My book, From Mine to Mint, has floor plans and other information on the Carson Mint, as well as all other US Mints and Assay Offices.

 

Edited June 6 by RWB

[Nouzillet]

The first CC silver dollars were struck on February 4, 1870 not the 11th.

Some time ago I participated in a discussion on this topic on another board

[RWB]

Nouzillet,

Interesting comment about first CC coinage date. What is the original source of the information? My database contains the following documents, which restrict the first date to Jan 10, 1870 or later.

 

[Henri Charriere]

Respectfully, neither the telegram or letter specially refer to mintage or the first date of mintage.  Perhaps the official Date of Mintage and Issue was designated February 4th in time for all the kinks to be worked out.

[Mike Meenderink]

@Nouzillet @RWB  This is precisely why I have founded this archive. Only with the free exchange of information and careful examination of all available documents, statements, stories, photographs and other historical information will we be able to truly understand the real history of the mint(s) and the people behind its day-to-day operations. By compiling these records of different types here the goal is to create a google  searchable (by descriptive title of each post) collection of historical mint records, photographs and other relevant material to be easily available to the public. Thanks guys!

[RWB]

On 6/6/2024 at 10:26 PM, Henri Charriere said:

Respectfully, neither the telegram or letter specially refer to mintage or the first date of mintage.  Perhaps the official Date of Mintage and Issue was designated February 4th in time for all the kinks to be worked out.

Coins could not be made without dies. The Jan 4 telegram asks about using 1869 dies (which were at the Mint) because no 1879 dies had been received. The letter of Jan 10 says that dies were received that morning. Thus, no correctly dated coin could have been made before Jan 10. One would expect some sort of notice of the first day coins were struck, and the denomination and quantity. But that has not been found - yet.

Edited June 7 by RWB

[GoldFinger1969]

On 6/5/2024 at 8:00 PM, RWB said:

As a practical mint, Carson had no value except political.

I guess lots of politicians supported it thinking the Mint was right in the neighborhood of the gold/silver mines and they'd save a ton of $$$ on transportation costs.

Must have been a shock to find it was still cheaper to send the stuff to SanFran.

[Henri Charriere]

@RWB :  I cannot imagine any member who knows full well he will be challenged on a matter involving a matter of specificity, alleging something he knows to be untrue. 

Your evidence illustrates a setback; he provides a solid date with no axe to grind and nothing to gain

I am going to pull a Don Rumsfeld, Sec'y of Defense on you here with a quotable quote and a notable one, to follow.

"You go to war with the army you have, not the army you want or wish to have at a later time."

🐓  :  "You continue to mint coins with the die(s) you have, not the die(s) you want or wish to have at a later date."

I don't feel it is beyond possibility that coinage resumed after a hiatus.  Would you be willing to concede some coins were not even minted in some years. (Tangential comment: If it weren't for a mere pair of parenthesis, who could challenge coins destined for minting at West Point were minted at San Francisco instead [ASE]).

Had member @Nouzillet insisted mint production at S.F. resumed earlier than expected, dem's fightin' words. He'd have to produce documentary proof. I know I 'd take a bullet for you on principle, but one or both of you are going to have to come up with something a little more compelling than memory and paper.

 

Edited June 9 by Henri Charriere
Reconsideration.and die polishing