With the finding of silver and gold in Nevada, a new branch opens in Carson City. The Carson City Mint produces coins during the latter half of the 19th century.
n 1854, the San Francisco mint opens being the first US mint west of the Mississippi River. They mint Gold and Silver Coins from the precious metals discovered in California.
In 1859, a large deposit of silver and gold ore is discovered near Virginia City, NV, the Comstock Lode. Practically overnight, the discovery turns the sleepy town of Virginia City to a city of 15,000. Of course, this post is not about Virginia City.
Beginnings Of The Carson City Mint
In 1863, Congress decides to build a mint branch in Carson City to make coins from the Comstock Lode ore. With the Civil War in full force, construction of the mint building doesn’t start until 1866. It officially opens in December of 1869 and starts minting coins in 1870. Just like Gold Coins from San Francisco as a result of the California Gold Rush, Carson City produces Silver Coins from the Comstock Lode. They will produce Gold Coins as well. Carson City’s mint mark is “CC”, the only mint mark with more than one letter.
Among the silver coins from the Carson City mint are the Liberty Seated coins (Dime, Twenty Cent, Quarter, Half Dollar, and Dollar), Trade Dollars and Morgan Dollars. Gold coins include Half Eagles ($5), Eagles ($10), and Double Eagles ($20).
President Grover Cleveland and the Democratic administration closes the Carson City Mint in 1885. Supposedly, since silver is worth less than gold, taxpayers pay their bills in silver, but international creditors want payment in gold. As a result, the Cleveland administration tries to reduce the amount of silver being minted and puts the US under the gold standard. When Cleveland leaves office, the Carson City mint resumes production in 1889. However, this will be short lived. With the decline of silver coming out of the Comstock Lode, the Carson City mint is closed for good in 1893.
After the Closing of This Mint Branch
The building becomes a US assay office until 1933. In 1939, the US Government sells the building to the State of Nevada. The state converts the building into the Nevada State Museum, which is still there today. Among the items inside the museum is Coin Press No. 1 (the original coin press from the mint). They still use it to produce medallions with the CC mint mark.
Carson City today
After producing coins and becoming Nevada’s state capital in 1864, Carson City doesn’t flourish as much as other local towns at the time. Many Chinese live there to work on the railroad. Unfortunately, the Central Pacific Railroad ends moving further north where the mining towns are. By 1920, there is less than 2,000 people in Carson City. Beginning in the 1940’s, Carson City expands and by the 1960’s, their population goes over 10,000 for the first time. Unlike other cities that are losing people during the 1970’s and 1980’s, Carson City is growing. The 2010 census shows Carson City with over 55,000 inhabitants.
What Happens to Virginia City?
Virginia City’s population is increasing as a result of the Comstock Lode. Much of the Comstock Lode helps build San Francisco like the gold in California. Many people are coming to Virginia City in the 1860’s and 1870’s including writer Samuel Clemens, who changes his name to Mark Twain while living there.
In 1875, there is a great fire destroying many buildings and leaving 2,000 people homeless. They rebuild the city and it continues flourishing until the 1880’s with the decline of the Comstock Lode. People start leaving Virginia City and by the 1920’s, there are less than 1,000 people living there.
Today, Virginia City still has a population under 1,000, but is becoming popular again through tourism.
I Would Like to Visit Carson City Someday
So far, I have only visited the Philadelphia Mint. I want to go to the museum in Carson City and see the coin press in person. Would you consider visiting Carson City?