Site of the U.S. Branch Mint at Dahlonega, Georgia. stands on the ruins of the U.S. Branch Mint.
What happened to the original Dahlonega Mint after it was closed?
It was located at (34°31.8′N 83°59.2′W ) in Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia. Coins produced at the Dahlonega Mint bear the “D” mint mark. That mint mark is used today by the Denver Mint, which opened many years after the Dahlonega Mint closed.
Why does Georgia have gold?
Miners scoured the rivers and creeks of Georgia in search of riches. The United States Mint even set up a branch in Dahlonega for several years. Gold that is mined in Georgia often assays at well above 23 karats, some of the purest natural gold deposits found anywhere on earth.
When did the Dahlonega Mint start making gold coins?
In 1839, the first $2.50 “quarter eagles” were made, and in 1849 the Mint began producing $1.00 gold coins as well. The Confederacy seized the Dahlonega Mint in January of 1861, and produced a number of $1.00 gold coins and $5.00 gold coins that year.
What did Charlotte and Dahlonega do at the Mint?
Charlotte and Dahlonega concentrated on processing the miners’ gold into coins, while New Orleans minted both gold and silver coins to keep up with a growing America.
Where was the US Mint in Dahlonega Georgia?
Due to the rich and vast gold deposits, the Federal government authorized the construction of a United States Mint in the new town of Dahlonega, Georgia. This new Mint was joined by Mints in Charlotte, North Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana. No silver or copper coins were minted in Dahlonega: only gold, sweet gold.
When was the Dahlonega Mint seized by the Confederates?
When the American Civil War broke out in 1861, the Dahlonega Mint was seized by the Confederates. It is believed that after the Confederates took over the mint in 1861, that some gold dollars and half eagles were minted under the authority of the Confederate States Government.
