A Celebration Of Coinage

The U.S. Mint Marks its 225th Anniversary with Special Programs.

- Louis Golino

Mints love anniversaries and often use them as vehicles for promoting their coins, and the U.S. Mint is no exception.

For example, the Mint issued special anniversary Silver and Gold American Eagle sets in 1995 and 2006 and silver-only sets in 2011, 2012 and 2013. 

Given this history, many collectors were surprised that the Mint barely took notice in 2016 of the 30th anniversary of the American Silver Eagle and did nothing for the 30th anniversary of the American Gold Eagle, or the 10th birthday of the American Buffalo gold coin last year. 

As for the Gold Buffalo anniversary, the Mint released a reverse proof version in 2013 for the 100 th anniversary of the introduction of the Buffalo nickel, whose design is replicated on the gold coin. 

The only thing done for the Silver Eagle’s 30th anniversary was incused edge lettering applied to the proof and burnished uncirculated coins that noted the special occasion, as required by congressional legislation passed in late 2015. 

Some collectors like the edge lettering, which makes those coins one-year types, while others were underwhelmed or found it hard to see, since the lettering is rather faint. 

But in 2017, when the Mint celebrates its 225th anniversary, the occasion will be marked by the issuance of a one-ounce, 24-karat high-relief Liberty-themed gold coin and a silver medal, as well as the first-ever enhanced uncirculated coin set, and possibly other products, too. 

The U.S. Mint was created by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, and the first Mint building located in Philadelphia, the nation’s first capital, was also was the first federal building created.