On the way home from a vacation to see the kids we took the tour at the Denver Mint. We managed to get an 11:30 reservation on the day we were going to be in Denver but all other times and dates were booked. We figured we would spend the morning checking out downtown Denver (snooze) but would see if we could snag the early tour if there were no-shows.
We stopped by the gift shop and as the queue was forming we asked the guide and police officers if we could trade in our reservation for an early one if there were no-shows. They said they would try but made no promises, if everyone arrived we would have to wait for our reservation. As it turned out there were several no-shows and we were able to take the early tour which meant we had time to go to the Money Museum in Colorado Springs in the afternoon.
The guide was excellent, patient, informative and answered any questions we had. When she noticed I was interpreting for my (deaf) wife she made sure to let me catch up. The several police officers that escorted the tour were also helpful and kind.
The tour itself was pretty routine for anyone who may have been at a mint tour elsewhere, it was pretty much the same as the Ottawa tour we took a couple years ago. They have a pretty nice set of displays of the various workings of the mint and many of the ancillary activities (Mint Police, foreign coinage made there etc.).
The gift shop at the mint was pretty decent, just about everything one would find on the web site was there as well as things for kids and adults. The wife bought a puzzle and fridge magnet (hobbies of hers) while, since I already had my sets, I ogled the various gold coins on display.
Afterwards we escaped Denver and made it to Colorado Springs by 12. We found the Money Museum on a beautiful college campus and went in. They have an exhibit about the Olympics and various coins, tokens and medals for them that was a lot more interesting than I would have thought.
They main floor exhibit of contemporary
US coinage was fascinating and the basement currency exhibit was nice. I only wish there was more attention given to 20th century coinage, it was pretty much just an afterthought ("Oh yeah, current coins are base metals"...).
We spent about an hour in each venue, and while I wouldn't recommend a long trip to solely go to either, if you are in the Denver area either one is a nice way to spend an hour. Make sure you plan ahead for the Mint Tour, they are usually filled up a week or more in advance.
Eventually I want to get to the Winnipeg Mint as I am fascinated by Canadian coinage. The Ottawa tour and shop is pretty limited and friends tell me the Winnipeg tour is better. Eventually too I will have to do the Philadelphia Mint tour, I went as a child but have limited recollection of it. There is so much more in Philly to do so that will be a longer trip.
Posted 07/11/2016 6:33 pm
