Coin Clinic: Branch Mints Outside the U.S.

Has the U.S. ever operated a mint outside the United States?

The United States has contracted with outside mints to assist in the production of coins or coinage blanks; however, the only U.S.-controlled mint to operate outside the geographic United States is the Manila Mint in the Philippines. The Manila Mint struck coins for the Philippines, not for the United States. Using an M mintmark, the facility operated officially as a branch mint between July 1920 and December 1941.

Has a U.S. Mint mark appeared on coins struck at the mint for foreign countries?

There have been sufficient foreign coins minted at U.S. government mints that can be identified by their mint marks to start a specialized collection. Among these are Australia, El Salvador, Mexico, and Peru. Technically, you could include the Confederate States of America since 1861-O half dollars were struck at that facility following its seizure during the Civil War.

Who are the companies that have supplied the U.S. Mint with coinage blanks?

Olin, PMX Industries, Sherritt Gordon/Westaim, Sunshine Mint, and the Waterbury Mint are among those that have supplied the U.S. Mint with coinage blanks. Olin is the longest continuous supplier of metal to the Mint. PMX Industries is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but is owned by the South Korean firm Poongsan Corporation. Westaim supplied blanks to the Royal Canadian Mint, which in turn supplied the U.S. Mint in 1998 and 1999. Sunshine and Waterbury have each supplied precious metal blanks.

It appears the penny is going away. Is there any reason we can’t have a new version of Hard Times tokens just as in the 1840s?

According to 18 US Code 336, “Whoever makes, issues, circulates, or pays out any note, check, memorandum, token, or other obligation for a less sum than $1, intended to circulate as money or to be received or used in lieu of lawful money of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.” At one time, Las Vegas casinos got around this statute by issuing dollar tokens used in vending machines. The solution to small change shortages in other countries has included giving change in the form of pieces of candy or gum.

Can I write a check for less than one dollar to make change when I don’t have 1-cent coins due to shortages?

Unfortunately, US Code 336 includes checks of less than a dollar if that check is meant to be used as circulating money rather than just as a remittance. You can legally write a check for less than a dollar if you are planning to pay in full with that check, but you don’t expect the check to circulate afterwards.

I’m considering collecting checks. When was the first check written?

There is no first instance of check writing on which researchers can agree. It has been suggested that checks were written during the Mauryan period of India between 321 and 185 B.C. It has also been suggested that the Romans introduced the check about 352 B.C. In modern history, it is likely that Amsterdam in Holland can be given the nod for introducing checks as we now know them. Hollanders had a choice of hoarding physical cash at home (as did everyone else) or depositing it with cashiers, who charged them a fee for the transaction. The cashier agreed to pay out of the account when so directed by a written note from the depositor.

Would the proposed coin on which President Trump could appear be legal?

Living persons appearing on U.S. coinage is a thorny question. 31 U.S. Code § 5112 covers the denominations, specifics, and designs of coins that the Secretary of the Treasury can issue. The same legislation forbids placing a living president on the ongoing presidential dollar series but does not specifically say a living person or president can’t appear on a coin. This is consistent with the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. The Coinage Act of 1866 legislation usually argued to cover living persons appearing on coins actually reads: “No portrait shall be placed upon any of the bonds, securities, notes, fractional or postal currency of the United States while the original of such portrait is living.” Coins are not specifically named in that legislation.

I understand there would be politics both for and against the idea every time a current or living president might appear on a coin, but what would be the harm?

At the time the United States was founded, it was commonplace for the ruling monarch or other such sovereign to appear on the coinage of the realm. George Washington and his contemporaries were against the concept of a monarchial-type figure appearing on our coinage and, for that reason, chose Liberty as the obverse subject.

What prompted Congress to pass legislation preventing living persons from appearing on our currency?

We have had statesmen, generals, and deceased presidents on our currency, but it was likely the congressional blunder in 1864 that prompted legislation to end the practice regarding anyone who is alive. In June of that year, Congress decided to honor Louisiana Purchase explorer William Clark on one of the then-upcoming Third Issue fractional note series denominations. The legislation that passed only read “Clark.” The 5-cent note from that series features a vignette of Spencer M. Clark, the very much alive supervisor of the Currency Bureau. Spencer M. Clark was also responsible for the production of the Third Series fractional notes.

Were any objections ever raised over the inauguration medals on which the current U.S. president appears?

Inaugural presidential medals have been issued ever since George Washington was sworn in for the first time. Samuel Brooks’ so-called manly medal marked the occasion. Silver and tin composition medals were being sold by the time Thomas Jefferson became president. These medals, as we now know them, began under Theodore Roosevelt. There are numerous medals on which a living person appears. It is generally accepted that there will be an inaugural medal for each presidential inauguration, and no one appears to be looking to change that practice.

Who was the first person living to appear on a coin?

Darius I (521-426 B.C.) is likely featured as the kneeling bowman on the early coinage of Persia. It is generally accepted that Tisaphernes, a Persian general and satrap of Lydia (died 395 B.C.) is the first person whose portrait appears on a coin. The practice became common among Hellenistic rulers. The first living Roman to appear on a coin was Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.

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