Commems Collection Questions: Answer #02 - Minting Of US Commemorative Coins?

Production of US commemorative coins has historically been, and continues to be, distributed among the active Branch Mints (Denver, San Francisco, West Point) in addition to the main Mint in Philadelphia.

The first commemorative coin was struck at the US Mint in Philadelphia. It was the very first Congressionally-authorized US commemorative coin struck - the 1892 World's Columbian Exposition half dollar.

The coins struck for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition were the first commemorative coin strikes for the San Francisco Branch Mint. The half dollar, gold dollar, gold quarter eagle and the two gold $50 coins were all struck at the San Francisco Branch Mint and featured the 'S' mint mark.

The first Denver Branch Mint commemorative coin was the 1933-D Oregon Trail Memorial half-dollar (Oregon Trail half dollars had previously been struck in Philadelphia [1926 and 1928] and San Francisco [1926]). The coins included the 'D' mint mark.

The Branch Mint at West Point, NY struck its first 'W' mint-marked US commemorative coin in 1984, it was a gold half eagle ($10) issued as part of the 1983-84 Los Angeles Olympics coin program.

Note: The US Branch Mints at Carson City,Nevada, Charlotte, North Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana did not strike any US commemorative coins.


Have a question? Post it in the Question & Answer - Introduction & Question List" thread and I'll try to provide an answer.


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.