United States Mint
Also: U.S. Mint, US Mint
The United States Mint is the official coinage authority of the United States and has issued legal-tender coinage as well as gold, silver and platinum bullion coins since 1792.
The United States Mint (U.S. Mint) is the state coinage authority of the USA, established by the Coinage Act of 1792. It sits within the U.S. Department of the Treasury and has the statutory mandate to produce circulating coins for payments, collector coins and bullion coins for investors. For precious-metal buyers worldwide, the U.S. Mint is best known as the issuer of some of the most heavily traded bullion coins on earth - its products are regarded as a benchmark for quality and counterfeit resistance.
Facilities and mint marks
The U.S. Mint operates four active mint facilities today:
| Facility | Mint mark | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | P (or no mark) | Circulating coins, bullion |
| Denver | D | Circulating coins |
| San Francisco | S | Proof coins, collector items |
| West Point (New York) | W | Bullion coins, proof gold/silver |
The mint mark on a coin indicates where it was produced and is an important authenticity feature.
Key bullion coins
American Eagle (since 1986): The best-known US bullion coin has been struck in gold and silver since 1986; platinum Eagles followed in 1997. The Gold Eagle is made of a 22-carat alloy (916.7) with added copper and silver for greater hardness - similar to the Krugerrand. The Silver Eagle contains one troy ounce of silver at 999 fineness and is the world's best-selling silver bullion product.
American Buffalo (since 2006): At the request of investors who prefer pure gold, the U.S. Mint introduced the Buffalo at 999.9 fineness (24 carat). It is regarded as the counterpart to the Vienna Philharmonic and the Maple Leaf.
The current gold price and silver price - and thus the underlying value of all bullion coins - are shown in real time on the respective price page.
Quality assurance and authenticity testing
Every U.S. Mint bullion coin carries exact weight, diameter and thickness specifications. The Silver Eagle, for example, weighs exactly 31.103 g at a 40.6 mm diameter. Deviations are a strong indication of counterfeiting. The coin weight checker lets you quickly compare target and actual values; the coin authenticity check guides you through further steps (magnet test, ping test, density).
Collector coins and proof issues
Alongside bullion coins, the U.S. Mint produces high-quality proof versions with a mirror-like finish, as well as numismatic collector items. Proof issues often command a considerable premium over the pure metal value. When choosing between bullion and collector coins, the premium effect should be taken into account (not investment advice).
In brief
The U.S. Mint stands for state-guaranteed quality and, with the American Eagle and American Buffalo, is a first choice for any precious-metal investor worldwide seeking recognised, liquid standard products.