United States Mint
Also: U.S. Mint, US Mint
The United States Mint is the official coinage authority of the United States, issuing legal tender as well as gold, silver and platinum bullion coins since 1792.
The United States Mint (U.S. Mint) is the federal coinage authority of the United States, established by the Coinage Act of 1792. It answers to the U.S. Treasury and carries the statutory duty of producing circulating coinage for everyday payments, collector coins and bullion coins for investors. To precious metal buyers the world over, the U.S. Mint is known above all as the issuer of the most heavily traded bullion coins on earth - products regarded as a benchmark for quality and anti-counterfeit design.
Facilities and mint marks
The U.S. Mint runs four active facilities today:
| Location | Mint mark | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | P (or none) | circulating coinage, bullion |
| Denver | D | circulating coinage |
| San Francisco | S | proof coins, collector pieces |
| West Point (New York) | W | bullion coins, proof gold/silver |
The mint mark on a coin points to where it was struck and is an important authenticity feature.
The leading bullion coins
American Eagle (since 1986): The best-known U.S. bullion coin has been struck in gold and silver since 1986, with platinum Eagles following in 1997. The gold Eagle is made from a 22-karat alloy (916.7) with added copper and silver for extra hardness - much like the Krugerrand. The silver Eagle contains one troy ounce of silver at 999 fineness and is the best-selling silver bullion product in the world.
American Buffalo (since 2006): For investors who prefer pure gold, the U.S. Mint introduced the Buffalo at 999.9 fineness (24 karat). It is regarded as the American counterpart to the Vienna Philharmonic and the Maple Leaf.
The current gold price and silver price - and hence the base value of every bullion coin - are shown in real time on the relevant price page.
Quality control and authentication
Every U.S. Mint bullion coin is held to exact tolerances for weight, diameter and thickness. The silver Eagle, for instance, weighs precisely 31.103 g at a diameter of 40.6 mm. Deviations are a strong sign of a fake. The coin weight checker makes it quick to compare target and actual figures, while the coin authenticity check walks through further steps (magnet test, ping test, density).
Collector and proof issues
Beyond bullion, the U.S. Mint produces high-grade proof versions with a mirror finish, along with numismatic collector pieces. Proof issues often command a marked premium over pure metal value. When choosing between bullion and collector coins, the premium effect should be weighed carefully (this is not investment advice).
In a nutshell
The U.S. Mint stands for state-guaranteed quality, and with the American Eagle and American Buffalo it is the first port of call for precious metal investors worldwide who want recognised, liquid standard products.