MINT OFFICE BUILDING
37 AND 39 NORTH SEVENTH STREET
Ye Olde Mint
Being a brief description of the first
U. S. Mint, established by Congress
in the year 1792, at Seventh Street
and Sugar Alley (now Filbert Street)
Philadelphia
COMPLIMENTS OF
Frank H. Stewart Electric Co.
7th and Filbert Streets Philadelphia
Copyright 1909
Frank H. Stewart Electric Co.
Philadelphia, Pa.
The great interest shown in numismatics and antiquitiesnowadays has caused this imperfect endeavor to collatesome of the interesting historical data still in existenceregarding the first United States Mint, and also at the sametime preserve by means of photographs and descriptions thepresent appearance of the old buildings.
Practically every chronological list of important eventswhich have happened in the United States records the establishmentof the first United States Mint in Philadelphia in1792, and if anyone has the time and inclination to investigatethe history and coinage of the mint for the first forty (40)years of its existence, and publish to the numismatic world theresult of his research, I shall be satisfied if my efforts hereshould furnish the slightest inspiration.
Numismatists very rarely, if ever, pay any attention to thepersons who made their rare and valuable specimens of coins,and probably still less attention to the places where they weremade.
The great majority of the rare United States coins weremade in buildings still standing at 37 and 39 North SeventhStreet, Philadelphia, or, to be more exact, in the coinage buildingin the rear of these numbers. Until recently these buildingswere unmarked, and the people of the neighborhood in agreat many instances were unaware of the fact that for aperiod of forty (40) years all of the United States coins weremade so near at hand. Those who daily walked past thebuildings had nothing to direct their attention to them, and itis safe to say that not five hundred persons in Philadelphiacould point out what at one time was one of the most important[4]buildings in the United States, as well as the first erectedunder authority of Congress for Federal purposes.
The author purchased the buildings and feels that it is hisduty to do what he can to describe them before they aredemolished, and also at the same time publish such data in hispossession as may prove interesting or valuable to the limitedfew who collect rare coins or are in any way interested in whatwas an exceedingly important department of our earlynational life.
Frank H. Stewart.
COINAGE BUILDING
REAR OF 37 AND 39 NORTH SEVENTH STREET
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