COIN FUN FACTS

The Mint has branches— and some get pruned… The United States Mint began making coins in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was the capital of the United States at the time. The first branches opened in Louisiana, Georgia, and North Carolina because gold was discovered nearby, but those branches are not operating today. Branches in California, Colorado, and Nevada soon followed, but
the Nevada branch has also been “pruned.” The newest branch is in West Point,
New York.

We would be eating the national bird!… If Ben Franklin had had his way, the turkey would be our national bird. Maybe then the $2.50 gold coin called the “quarter eagle” would be called the “quarter turkey.” Sounds more like a menu item, doesn’t it? And if the astronaut who landed on the moon had said “The
turkey has landed,” …it just wouldn’t be the same.

Our first commemorative coins were first seen at a World’s Fair… 1892 was the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovering America. To celebrate, Congress provided money for a world’s fair. Chicago hosted the “Columbian Exposition,” as it was called, and two special coins were created for the event. The half dollar coin featured a bust of the explorer and sold at the fair for one dollar. The quarter dollar showed Queen Isabella of Spain, who financed the trip.