Title: Call Me Millard
Continuing with our "More Than I Really Needed To Know About Coins" lesson, we come to mints! Mints are tiny things that make your breath better... oh... wait, wrong mints. Mints buy a whole lot of metal (steel, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, etc), in huge rolls and run them into machines that punch out little "blanks" (basically its a 200 ton cookie cutter). They take the blanks, wash them and prep them and then line them up to be "smooshed" (that's a technical "coin" term) into coins. True, there's a bit more "technical" parts, but that's the Reader's Digest version.
In the US, there are 4 operational mints, the two largest (and well known because you carry their coins in your pocket) are Philadelphia and Denver. They make all of the circulated coins (coins that are made for public use). San Francisco makes special "Proof" sets that are for collectors (they are sealed in plastic containers so they stay in uncirculated condition). Lastly, is West Point, which only makes gold, silver and platinum coins for collectors.
This photo is of Millard "Original Gangsta'" Fillmore. You do NOT want him on your bad side...
Enjoy
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