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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,164 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1026 Posts |
I have never thought about it but I live in about a two hour drive from Philadelphia PA.
If you go to the Philadelphia US Mint can you request items and get them like President dollars, New Quarters, Pennies ect?
Just was thinking maybe I could drive there on release dates and get the new releases that date.
Moved to Main Forum
-GO
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3294 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
They search you just like they do in the airports. You go through a metal detector and there is a guy with a wand waiting for you. I went there 2 years ago and they were very serious about cameras and cell phones with cameras in them. Unfortunately you have to go through security before you can go to the gift shop.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1026 Posts |
Sounds like I should make a trip there but check on things 1st maybe even call the day before.
Thanks for your information.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
Back when I wanted to go, 2003-2004 I believe, you needed Congressional permission to go. I wrote my Congressman but did not receive my permission until the day after I left for PA. In addition to the Mint police, there was Philly police walking the streets carrying automatic weapons. Made me feel both secure yet scared at the same time.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
I didn't see too any local Philly Police officer, maybe just one or two Mint Police officers outside. They do have concrete barriers outside. Here is a picture of the front entrance I took 2 years ago.  As you can see, there isn't too much action going on outside the Mint. I'm sure that changes in the summer months. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3294 Posts |
When I went to the mint in Perth Australia, there were not draconian security measures, and I don't recall armed gunmen running off with the gold they had.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
So what can it cost to make a few phone calls. You never know. Sometimes you hear stories and none are true or all are true. Make some phone calls to see if you can get in there. You might want to pretend to be applying for a job there. Then tell them you wouldn't work there unless you get a tour and free samples.  Mention your a tax payer. That always makes the government people really pay attention.  If you do get in, take lots of photos of any workers not doing their job so you can get those free samples.  For real, let us all know what you find out. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
I was at the Denver Mint in 2005 and at the time, the gift shop only sold items in the Mint catalog. Hopefully for you, they have changed that practice  Unfortunately, 2005 was also the time period that they were switching from the Congressional sponsorships to in-person only reservations. The in-person reservations could only be made during the week of the tour date and if you wanted to tour on a Friday, you had to be there Monday morning to sign up because slots for the entire week were usually booked by Monday afternoon/Tuesday morning. Needless to say, that process created a major snafu for me and I was not able to tour the US Mint in Denver on my 30th birthday thanks to a bunch on snotty nosed school kids that probably couldn't have cared less that they were touring the Mint  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
The most recent time I was at the Denver Mint, I only wanted to visit the gift shop. The gift shop is the last step of the tour, and then it's out the door and onto the sidewalk.
Instead of letting me in the door to the gift shop, I had to report to the visitors' door, and then was escorted through the mint, past the tour groups, and on to the gift shop.
I always thought that was a little strange, but hey, it's the Government.
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
I would just add that while I was disappointed in what the gift shop offered, there were several vendors set up on the sidewalk outside the exit door, and I bought severa coins from them.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
I would just add that while I was disappointed in what the gift shop offered, there were several vendors set up on the sidewalk outside the exit door, and I bought severa coins from them.
I've never been there. Exactly what does the gift shop offer? I would think there would be all sorts of Proof, Uncirc, commemorative coins. NO? And here is a really dumb question. Do they give discounts on what they sell? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
The gift shop(at least when I was in Denver ~4 years ago) sells the same items as the online catalog and for the same price. Of course, there is no $4.95 s&h Edited by biokemist6
03/09/2009 11:43 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
One nice thing about the Denver Mint Gift Shop is that they have some 'left over' new items that are sold out online.
There were still new "Uncirculated" Jamestown 2007 and Bald Eagle 2008 Commemorative Dollars in the case when I was there last Friday. I may get got that Bald Eagle, I was rather liking its appearance in Uncirculated (ironic, considering that I bought my Proof version from that very same case!).
The American Buffalo Gold Fractional coins also took slightly longer to sell out at the shop than online. The last was an 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set that was still there early last month (it's gone now).
Edited by DNA
03/14/2009 11:07 am
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
As I recall, the mint sold pretty much what was in their catalog
It did seem that they pushed their medals. There were more medals in the front counters than coins.
I bought a small set of Presidential medals in an album.
It seemed reasonable priced.
However, I did buy more coins out on the sidewalk than I did inside the mint coin shop.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,164 |
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Posted 03/04/2009 1:43 pm
