When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few.
April 2, 1792 Congress establishes the US Mint in Philadelphia.
On April 2, 1792 Congress passed the Coinage Act, establishing the first national mint in the United States. In 1788, with the passage of the new US Constitution, discussions soon began about the need for a national mint. Congress chose Philadelphia, then the nation’s capital, as the site of our first Mint. President George Washington appointed a leading scientist, David Rittenhouse, as the first director. Rittenhouse bought two lots at 7th and Arch Streets to build a three-story facility. It was the first federal building erected under the Constitution.
Coin production began immediately. The Act specified the following coinage denominations:
- In copper: half cent and cent
- In silver: half dime, dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar
- In gold: quarter eagle ($2.50), half eagle ($5), and eagle ($10)
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 