Work begins at Old San Francisco Mint

With a golden shovel designed and donated to the project by Don Kagin, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom broke ground Oct. 7 at the Old San Francisco Mint on a $55 million project to turn the Greek Revival edifice into into a Gold Rush and coin museum, high-end restaurant and tourist center.

Kagin, who can be seen behind the mayor’s left shoulder, also donated an 1891-S $20 gold piece graded MS-62 by the Professional Coin Grading Service. It was sold at a fund-raising auction at the event.

The photo was snapped by nimble Numismatic News reader Paul Myslin with a cellphone camera.