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 Replies: 11 / Views: 3,108 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1882 Posts |
Taking the family to vacation in Colorado in 3 weeks. Oh, an opportunity to tour the Denver mint. Not! Just tried to make a reservation, and have no openings that entire week.
I won't be driving into Denver early in the morning to make an attempt at getting in on standby.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Are you going to be near Colorado Springs or Pikes Peak? If so, stop by the ANA museum but bring a hankie to wipe the drool off your chin  On the southwest side of Pike's Peak is Cripple Creek, home of one of the largest gold strikes in the US and current home to a few active mines. The Molly Kathleen Mine is open for tours, you get to go 1000ft down to see a working shaft mine. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1882 Posts |
Will be within a couple hours northwest of Colo. Springs. ANA school is running that week, but don't want to devote 2 (or 5) days away from the family. The museum would be a good compromise. We've poked around Cripple Creek before, but didn't plop down the $80 for the whole family to go down the mine. But that's something to consider maybe with one or two of the boys. Thanks for the ideas. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Quote:stop by the ANA museum In all of my trips to that awesome state.....I never knew about this ! .....  I hope there's a "next time" for me VERY VERY VERY soon ! |
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Valued Member
United States
469 Posts |
For what it's worth. The last time I was in Denver, I went to the mint and checked on the tour,(I didn't know about setting things up in advance)and went on stand by and within 10 minutes I was in. I was ready to just leave but the guy told me that my chances were good as many don't show. I got in and it was worth going. It's hard to say if a small group would have the same luck but anyone going by them selves should try. I don't know if this helps much but you never know.
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Valued Member
United States
103 Posts |
Went in early June, the tour was given by an overly eager college student on semester break and lasted about 45 minutes. Ask about the bullet holes in the foyer just before ascending the grand staircase down the front entrance at the end of tour, apparently they are from a 1922 heist at the mint when Denver was still a wild and wooly town. The gift shop was stocked on all of the mint products available at that time except for the First Spouse gold coin. The best part my family liked was the quarter and dollar exchange machines which dispensed Yellowstone quarters and Franklin Pierce president dollars. All in all a very worthwhile experience and there were a lot of no shows on the Thursday we went. Oh and by the way, there is a whole list of prohibited items you cannot bring into the facility such as cameras, purses and cell phones. Check the website before you go.
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Valued Member
United States
103 Posts |
Went in early June, the tour was given by an overly eager college student on semester break and lasted about 45 minutes. Ask about the bullet holes in the foyer just before ascending the grand staircase down the front entrance at the end of tour, apparently they are from a 1922 heist at the mint when Denver was still a wild and wooly town. The gift shop was stocked on all of the mint products available at that time except for the First Spouse gold coin. The best part my family liked was the quarter and dollar exchange machines which dispensed Yellowstone quarters and Franklin Pierce president dollars. All in all a very worthwhile experience and there were a lot of no shows on the Thursday we went. Oh and by the way, there is a whole list of prohibited items you cannot bring into the facility such as cameras, purses and cell phones. Check the website before you go.
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Pillar of the Community
555 Posts |
There's 2 real nice ladies at the gift shop there. Ask them if there's anything new that just came out, you might be surprised.
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Valued Member
United States
376 Posts |
The Philadelphia mint is a self guided tour. The people who run the gift shop there are very knowledgeable and friendly too. One day I'd love to see both the Denver and San Francisco mints. Since 9/11 the security @ the Philly mint went through the roof it used to be very informal.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1882 Posts |
We got back home this weekend...the trek to either Denver or Colorado Springs was a little further from where we were staying than I thought, so neither the ANA museum or a standby attempt at the mint happened. But we have a great trip, nonetheless. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1801 Posts |
Speaking of mint tours and gift shops, I was at a coin show many years ago and displayed (but not for sale) at one dealers booth was a tiny cloth "money bag" marked "US Mint Denver" that contained 10 Unc Lincoln cents that the dealer said his father bought as a souvenir at the mint for 15 cents. What made it noteworthy was that he took the tour in 1914 and and the coins were all dated 1914D.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1882 Posts |
That's cool...those 14-D's obviously had sentimental value to him.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 3,108 |
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Posted 06/16/2010 2:18 pm
