The United States Mint

The United States Mint is a federal agency of the United States that is primarily responsible for minting the US dollar. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C. The Mint has branches in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Denver (Colorado), San Francisco (California) and West Point (New York). A separate federal police force is responsible for protecting the production facilities and the raw materials and products: The United States Mint Police, which is the oldest federal law enforcement agency. The Mint was created by Congress at the instigation of Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton with the Coinage Act of 1792 and subordinated to the State Department. It became an independent agency in 1799 and in 1873 became part of the Department of the Treasury through the Coinage Act of 1873. In addition to minting regular circulation coins, it also offers a wide range for collectors and investors. Examples include commemorative coins, medals and the Eagle in gold, silver and platinum.