U.S. MINT Whether we idolize it or barely think about it, we all have to admit a certain fascination with the coins and bills that make the world go round. There are four mints in the United States, but the Denver Mint is one of only two (the other is in Philadelphia) where we can actually see the process of turning lumps of metal into shiny coins. Opened in 1863, the Mint originally melted gold dust and nuggets into bars. In 1904 it moved to the current site, and 2 years later began making gold and silver coins. Copper pennies were added a few years later. The last silver dollars (containing 90% silver) were coined in 1935. In 1970, all silver was eliminated from dollars and half dollars (today they're made of a copper-nickel alloy). The Denver Mint stamps billions of coins each year, and each has a small D on it. Although visitors today don't get as close as they once did, a self-guided tour along the visitors' gallery provides a good look at the process, with video monitors offering a close-up view of the actual coin-minting process as it is taking place. A variety of displays help explain the minting process, and a gift shop across the street offers a variety of souvenirs. [ Denver hotels in Denver] - [Site Map] - [ Secure Server ] - [ Privacy Policy ] - [ Disclaimer ]