How the US Mint Was Created

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In 1791 Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson signed a Congressional Resolution authorizing the creation of the U.S. Mint. From Heritage Auctions Auction 6258 (July 16, 2022), 42014. Opening Bid: $100,000.
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Heritage Auctions will be offering more than 50 lots of historical objects in their Historical Platinum Session Signature® Auction on 16th July 2022 ranging from handwritten manuscripts of Mozart and Beethoven to a single leaf from the Gutenberg Bible.

Of particular numismatical interest are two items. One is the 1791 congressional resolution authorizing the creation of the U.S. Mint. It is signed by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and countersigned in type by George Washington (President of the United States), John Adams (Vice President, President of the Senate), and Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg (Speaker of the House). This document is offered with an opening bid of $100,000.

In this letter of 1905, Augustus Saint-Gaudens replies to the Director of the U.S. Mint accepting the commission of “new designs for the [gold] coinage”. From Heritage Auctions Auction 6258 (July 16, 2022), 42020. Opening Bid: $50,000.
A fitting companion piece to the creation of the U.S. Mint document is an autograph letter signed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, replying to the Director of the U.S. Mint, accepting the commission of “new designs for the [gold] coinage”. This letter starts with an opening bid of $50,000.

A stunning pair of documents from the origin of the Mint to the iconic designs so easily recognized today.

 

You can view all lots of the in the online catalog.

For further information about Heritage Auctions, visit their website.