The United States declared independence in 1776, but it wasn’t until 1792 that the U.S. Mint was formed. The first U.S Coins to be struck came off the dies in 1793. Some of the earliest presses used by the Mint were actually powered by horses. Steam powered equipment wasn’t available until later. Production was slow and quite limited by the technology of the era. This is in stark contrast to the U.S. Mint as we know it today.

Now that the U.S. Mint has been striking coins for over 225 years, it’s a massive operation with facilities across the nation. While other U.S. Mint facilities have come and gone over the years, the current branches include Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point. With the help of modern technology and a large staff, the U.S. Mint now produces billions of coins each year. The majority of these coins are intended for circulation, but collectible coins still make up a fair portion of their overall production.

The U.S. Mint is a top choice whether you’re looking for collectible coins or bullion. Their coins are consistently very high quality and a number of appealing designs are released each year. U.S. Mint products that are still in their original packaging are always classy. If quality is your main concern, it’s hard to go wrong with coins from the U.S. Mint