No Date Medal San Francisco Mint Bronze 1 5/16"

Coin Details

Description

This undated bronze medal depicts the San Francisco Mint, one of the most storied facilities in the U.S. coinage system. The San Francisco Mint was established in 1854 to serve the California Gold Rush, converting raw gold into coins closer to its source rather than requiring the dangerous and expensive shipment of bullion across the continent to Philadelphia. Coins bearing the "S" mintmark have been produced at the San Francisco facility since its founding, and the mint has been particularly associated with proof coinage production since the 1960s. The obverse presents an architectural portrait of the San Francisco Mint building, depicting the third and current facility at 155 Hermann Street, which opened in 1937. This Art Deco-influenced building replaced the beloved Old Mint at Fifth and Mission Streets, which had served since 1874. The San Francisco Mint has undergone several transitions in its role within the Mint system — from a full-service facility producing circulating coins, to a period of reduced operations in the 1950s and early 1960s, to its modern incarnation as the primary producer of proof sets, commemorative coins, and special collector issues. The reverse carries standard facility medal inscriptions in the 1 5/16 inch format. The San Francisco Mint's evolution mirrors the changing nature of American coinage, from the urgency of Gold Rush-era production through the silver coinage era to the modern emphasis on collector products. The "S" mintmark remains one of the most recognized and sought-after symbols in American numismatics, representing quality striking and limited production runs.

Rarity Notes

Undated bronze facility medal, 1 5/16 inch (33mm). Standard U.S. Mint souvenir medal.

Cross References

PCGS #413125; San Francisco Mint facility medal; San Francisco Mint established 1854