SF Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act

Not me!!! I have already had my sentiments published concerning the fine folks in California wanting the rest of the country to finance a museum for them? There are literally hundreds of other options our Mint, and government, could take with our commemorative program but it has turned into nothing more than a cash cow for groups and organizations. And, quite frankly how many Americans will ever see the end results of such programs?

Crystalk you have a good point, and I'd have to agree that the Government has other options they should look into. But looking at the historical point I think the U.S. Mint or the state of California should do something to commemorate the mint.
Just hear me out if you could, the San Francisco mint was part of the gold rush and the drive westward. It also survived the 1906 earthquake and continued minting coins while San Francisco was rebuilt. Now granted the Mint of today isn't the Gray Lady of old, but the San Francisco mint is the only mint that doesn't allow visitors.
Now you're right that the rest of the country shouldn't finance a museum for California. Carson City, Nv. and New Orleans, La. both have state ran mint museums so why shouldn't California. San Francisco's a tourist trap as it is, if the state were smart they'd see this as an opportunity. But then again the groups and organizations that you stated would find a way to screw it up.
I myself would like to see the museum (if it gets that far). I think it'd be great opportunity for locals and tourist to learn about the westward expansion, the history of the U.S. Mint and maybe even get some of them interested in numismatics.

The building once held 1/3 of our nation's gold reserves. Smithsonian Magazine had a nice article, "Grace Under Fire" about the mint in its April issue:
http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/...rthquake.php

There was a museum at the mint which closed about 10 years ago (or so-I only visited once). Ironically a large portion of the cost is involved in bringing the granite lady up to modern earthquake code.


Terry I agree that the commemorative coin program proceeds need to be carefully watched. I realize I live here and am thus a beneficiary, but this is a voluntary program, and is both historically significant and numismatically related. I can't think of another commemorative coin which meets those criteria. I'm far more concerned about legislative set asides (earmarks) for museums-which are not voluntary as they come from our federal income taxes. Why did all Americans pay for interpretive dioramas at the WW2 victory museum in Auburn Indiana? That museum received earmarked funding in FY 2004 and 2005 to the tune of $700,000. That's $70 per man, woman, and child in Auburn.
Don

Well SFDukie you got me there and the sad part is, living in Indiana, and NOT knowing the museum was even in Auburn, Indiana? That alone tells you how wise it is to put money into a dead horse! I am impressed that you, or anyone else for that matter, knew of this Indiana establishment as I have been here all my life and didn't have a clue. Guess we may be talking "pork" with this project? Let me know when you are loading up the family for a trip to this "off the beaten path" destination and we can get together for some another forum? Don't think you will have to stand in line to get in and probably won't need to awful much time to see it all! This makes me think of some other huge government blunders! How about the guy who received over $50,000 per year, for 3 years doing research on solar energy, with a grant from the government. This took place years ago when the big solar energy drive first started. He actually built a small solar panel for an outhouse in Illinios and checked the temperature 3 times a day for 3 years, submitted his reports and was paid very well to do it don't you think? And, if I remember correctly, it was in the late 70's when the government forked over $125,00 each year for 3 years to do research on why children fall off of tricycles! (this is no joke) Why can't we have some folks running things who have had to actually balance a budget, work for a living and know the difference between common sense and a hole in the ground? It is NO wonder we have such a huge deficit!!!
Now as far as the SF Mint Museum is concerned I would MUCH rather have (own) those old classics with the San Francisco mint mark as that is REAL history to me and holding that history in my hands will always beat the tar out of viewing it in a glass case.