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Visiting the U.S. Bureau of Engraving & Printing in Washington, DC

Check out where U.S. currency is made and take a tour with this unique free experience.

What and where is the U.S. Bureau of Engraving & Printing?

The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing , founded in 1862, produces Federal Reserve Notes (also known as paper money, or U.S. dollars) for the Federal Reserve, our country’s central bank (note that coins are made by the United States Mint). The Bureau also produces Treasury securities, military commissions and award certificates, ID cards, invitations and an additional range of security documents for government agencies, making it the largest producer of government security documents in the U.S.

The Bureau has two locations: one in Forth Worth, Tx. and the other in, you guessed it, Washington, DC. The official address is 301 14th Street SW, Washington, DC 20228. The facility features two adjacent buildings, with the facade of the main building facing Raoul Wallenburg Place SW, the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial.

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Take a tour of the "money factory"

Tickets, which are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, are required for the tour from March through November. The ticket booth is located at Raoul Wallenburg Place SW (formerly known as 15th Street) and opens at 8 a.m., Monday through Friday. The booth closes when all tickets have been distributed for the day.

Group tours for groups of 10 up to 30 people run every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. – noon. Limited reserved tour times are offered. To reserve a group tour, fill out the Group Reservation Request Form and e-mail it to [email protected] . You can learn more about group tours by calling 202-874-2330 or 1-866-874-2330.

Call 202-874-2330 for more information about the accessible entrance.

All visitors must pass through a security screening before entering the Bureau. Tour guides will direct visitors to enter the building when appropriate.

What will I see on the tour?

The 40-minute experience will enlighten you on all things related to U.S. currency. The tour begins with an introductory film that details the function of the Bureau and its importance. Along the way, you’ll witness millions of dollars being printed as you stroll through the gallery that overlooks the production floor.

The tour also includes exhibits that dive further into the production of our national currency. There’s also a gift shop, open from 8:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., that features currency products for sale.

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The Bureau of Engraving and Printing welcomes visitors to the Tour and Visitor Centers in Washington, DC and Fort Worth, Texas.

Shop Online

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is resuming the Public Sales Program on October 1, 2023. Numismatic offerings are being reintroduced in phases. Uncut Currency Sheets is the first product line to be replenished, as BEP’s core public sales product. BEP will continue to evaluate the schedule for future product offerings. Product updates will be communicated via the product schedule on the U.S. Mint’s website.

If you can't make it to DC or Fort Worth, be sure to shop online for uncut currency sheets and specialty products!  Browse our selection of unique products that make gift-giving easy or to add to your own money collection.

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Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 24 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

Bureau of Engraving and Printing Tours

This post will tell you all about how to tour the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C.

For years this was a common attraction that I took school groups to visit. They closed to the public in 2020 and only quietly reopened in the fall of last year.

I love the BEP tours and museum and think it's one of the more fun options of things to do in DC with kids - as long as you go at the right time of time of day!

• How to get Tickets
• Plan Your Visit

About the Bureau of Engraving and Printing

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is one of only two places in America (the other is in Texas) where paper money is printed. Don't confuse this with the U.S. Mint ! There is no US Mint in DC.

The BEP is open for guided tours where you can see the process of how American currency is printed, secured from counterfeiting, and destroyed. 

Tickets for the tour are free , but you may need some determination to secure tickets during the peak tourism season.

WHAT IS ON THE TOUR

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing offers free 40-minute long tours.

Once through security, there are some small exhibits to peruse before they begin the tour with a short film. There are benches to sit and watch the introductory film.

You will then have a docent-led tour through the facility. The walk-through tour is in galleries above the factory floor. As it's a working federal building, you'll see the money actually being made - printed, cut, and counted as you work your way through.

The docent will explain what you are seeing and offer some fun facts about US currency and in some places guests say you can even smell the cold hard cash!

You'll learn a lot about the process but don't expect to get all the tips of the trade as photographs are not allowed on the tour.

When you finish the tour, the docent sends you to exit through the gift shop .

HOW TO GET TOUR TICKETS

Hours: Tours run Monday - Friday 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m.

Closed: Federal Holidays and the end of year Dec. 23, 2024 - Jan. 1 , 2025

As the BEP reopens, tickets are available on a walk up basis only OR by going through your congressperson.

With the exception of occasional busy weeks (like Thanksgiving or Presidents' Day Weekend) tickets are not required and you can just show up at the Visitors Entrance for admission. 

BEST TIME TO GO:

Reviews suggest avoiding lunchtime tickets - when the workers on the floor are on their lunch break and less will be going on for you to see.

WHEN TO LINE UP FOR TICKETS:

You can get same-day tickets at the ticket booth, located at Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th ST, SW) ( map ), - the ticket booth remains closed until March 2024. You can get tickets at the regular entrance on 14th Street.

Tickets opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes when all tickets have been distributed for the day. Queues during peak season begin to form before 8 am for the early tickets.

In peak season (March-June, and near holiday weekends) people begin lining up around 7:30 am for the 8 am ticket opening.

If you have a specific time that day that you want to get tickets for, you'll need to be near the front of the line. If you don't mind what time you get a tour, don't worry if you're not the first person.

Even on busy days, you may find tickets still available at 10:30 am but they tend to be the last tours of the day - around 5:30 pm.

TIP: The whole group does NOT need to be there to get tickets. You can send one person to get up to 4 tickets.

If you'll be in the area already, just stop by and see if they have any tickets.

You may arrange special advance reservation tickets through your Member of Congress.

A limited number of tours are available Monday through Friday at the following times (ET): 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m.

Please contact your local United States  Senator  or  Representative  for more information.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

In this section, we cover how to get to the tour entrance point, security and prohibited items, the cool gift shop , and suggest other things to do either before or after your walking tour . 

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing Tours and Visitor Center’s entrance is located at 14th Street near C Street, SW.

We recommend that you use this Google map link for directions from anywhere in Washington, DC.

The nearest Metro Station is Smithsonian (Blue/Orange/Silver lines).

From the Independence Ave exit, you just need to head straight out of the exit along Independence Ave SW until 14th Street.

Cross the street and turn left. The BEP entrance will be just past the Holocaust Memorial Museum on your right.

All DC hop-on-hop-off bus tours have stops very near the Bureau of Engraving tour entrance .

SECURITY CHECK

Just like most places in DC, you will have to enter through security. Be prepared to arrive 15 minutes prior to your ticketed time. Late arrivals will often not be admitted.

• No weapons or sharp objects.
• Cameras and Electronics are allowed but photography is prohibited inside the building.
• Strollers are allowed into the building but not on the tour.

Want to purchase a (fake) $100,000 bill? Or a bill from the year you were born?

Then you need to visit the gift shop at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is located at the end of the tour! 

You can visit the gift shop without tickets or going on a tour!

The entrance is located at the back of the building on Raoul Wallenberg Place (15th Street NW). You'll see an imposing set of stairs and the entrance between the columns. Simply let the security officer know that you just want to visit the gift shop.  

It is an easy walk from the Smithsonian Metro Station. Exit from the Independence Ave side and walk straight until 15th Street and turn left.

THINGS TO DO NEARBY

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a popular attraction and located is close to the National Mall.

We have a number of suggestions for things to do nearby.

Take a Walking Tour!

Our National Mall and National Mall & Tidal Basin Walking tours start just down the street from where you exit the BEP on 15th Street.

We will often have a tour to coincide with your visit to the Bureau.

If you end up with an afternoon reservation for BEP, note that our National Mall and Tidal Basin tour ends just around the Tidal Basin, about a 10-15 minute walk to get to the entrance!

Visit the US Holocaust Memorial Memorial

It's right next door! Read our post on how to get Tickets to the Holocaust Museum

Grab a Bite to Eat:

There is a cafe outside the USHMM on the 15th Street (Group Entrance) side. This is the same side you exit the BEP from.

You will have to go through security to get into the cafe but you do not need tickets or reservations to the museum to visit the cafe as they are separate buildings.

The cafe has both hot and cold food and is open 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.

A hidden gem when it comes to cafeterias in DC is the Department of Agriculture.

Now, we understand that going to a federal building's office cafeteria might not be high on your list but this one is an exception.

The food is great and not too expensive and you'll see some amazing WWII era art along the way. All you need to enter the building is a photo ID and you'll get a visitor's badge.

Lunch is 11 am - 3 pm and the entrance is on C Street SW about a block from the USHMM.

REVIEWS OF THE BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING TOUR

• Recommended for families with kids and anyone interested in money
• NOT recommended for those with limited time

Visitors have consistently given BEP tours a good rating.  Many guests say it's an interesting experience but only if you have extra time. It doesn't seem to be at the top of anyone's list.

It is a very popular experience for younger visitors.

Families with kids usually give it 5 out of 5 stars - it's a short tour so good for those with short attention spans and you get to walk through the factory to see the machines making the money which is always a highlight for children.

Most negative experiences stem from people who had to wait a long time for tickets and then didn't think the tour was worth the wait.

A common tip is to walk by the ticket booth if you're in the area and if there are tickets available, go in then rather than planning your trip around the visit.

If you're taking our National Mall and Tidal Basin tour, you have to walk by the ticket booth to get back to the Metro station so you can check in!

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United States Mint to Reopen Washington, DC Coin Store

WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) is reopening its Washington, DC Coin Store (store) on May 16, 2022. The store had been closed for more than two years to reduce the risk of Mint employee exposure to COVID-19.

“Having customers coming back to the store is a great opportunity for the Mint to interact with the numismatic community,” said Matt Holben, Associate Director of Sales and Marketing. “Listening to our customers’ feedback, observing their reactions, and engaging in conversation with customers lead to better product development.”

Mr. Holben went on to describe the significance of having the store open again after a long hiatus.

“The Coin Store in Washington, DC serves a dynamic purpose,” said Holben. “The location attracts D.C. area visitors who may not be numismatists, thus creating an opportunity to engage the customer and share why American coinage is so important. The store is also a gathering place for our existing customers to come in and enjoy our large inventory of coins and medals.”

The store will offer a wide variety of United States Mint coins and medals for sale. The initial inventory will include limited quantities of some 2021 American Eagle gold and silver coin products.

The store is giving away “swag bags” to the first 50 people who make a purchase.

The store will have sidewalk signage outside of the entrance letting customers know where to enter into the building.

The store is located at 801 9th Street Northwest, Washington, DC Store hours will be 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday unless the day falls on a Federal holiday. Many forms of payment are accepted, including Google Pay and Apple Pay. The store also offers touchless chip readers during checkout.

About the United States Mint Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.

• Visit https://www.usmint.gov/about for information about the United States Mint.
• Visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/email-signup to subscribe to United States Mint electronic product notifications, news releases, public statements, and the monthly educational newsletter, Lessons That Make Cents .
• Visit and subscribe to the United States Mint’s YouTube channel to view videos about the United States Mint.
• Sign up for RSS Feeds from the United States Mint and follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and Pinterest .

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The U.S. Mint makes the coins used as money the United States. They also produce special edition coins you can buy for coin collections.

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Mint Downtown

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U.S. Department of the Treasury

Tours of the historic treasury building, who can take the tour.

Tours are available at this time for citizens and legal residents of the United States. You must register in advance with your Congressional Office and provide the following for each visitor:

• date of birth
• social security number

In addition, everyone must have a photo I.D. to gain admittance to the building on the date of their scheduled tour.

Prohibited Items

• strollers (no storage area onsite)
• backpacks (no storage area onsite)
• cameras - photography (still or video) is not permitted in the building

Tour Entrance

Visitors must enter through the West building entrance (Bell entrance).  This entrance is located in between the Treasury Building and the White House.  A docent will meet you to escort the group into the building.  

Cancellations

Please note, you must notify your congressional office immediately if you need to cancel your tour once you have received confirmation.  Space is limited and there is usually a greater demand than available tour slots.  Early cancelations afford others to fill the vacant tour slots.

Accessibility

Special arrangements must be made, in advance, for wheelchair access to the building.

Transportation

We strongly recommend that you use public transportation because nearby parking is limited. The closest metro stations are Metro Center or McPherson Square. From McPherson Square, follow the street signs to the White House. We are next door on the east side. Metrobus and Metrorail information is available by calling 202-637-7000.

What you will see

Some highlights are the Salmon Chase ,  Andrew Johnson Suites , and the Cash Room .

Please note that this is NOT the tour for seeing the production of United States currency notes or coins. For a tour of currency production, please visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's Tours page .  For a tour of coin production, please visit the US Mint's Tours page .

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Historically a famous, popular live music venue, in 2005, we transformed this amazing space into the modern-day MINT Gym and Studio.

Bathed in natural light, MINT features four dedicated fitness studios (cycle, intensity, mind-body, and Pilates reformer), a complete cardio room, a dedicated core and stretching area, and what can only be described as a playground of strength training equipment for big kids.

Enjoy keyless lockers, a sauna, free tea and coffee, and more!

1724 California Street Washington, DC 20009 Front Desk: 202.470.5238

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Get a free trial., ready to get started, quality over quantity since 2006.

MINT’s community is different. We’re welcoming and supportive. The health and safety of our staff and members are our top priority. People come here to work out and have fun in a safe environment.

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United States Mint to Reopen Washington, DC Coin Store

The United States Mint is reopening its Washington, DC Coin Store on May 16, 2022. The store had been closed for more than two years to reduce the risk of Mint employee exposure to COVID-19.

“Having customers coming back to the store is a great opportunity for the Mint to interact with the numismatic community,” said Matt Holben , Associate Director of Sales and Marketing. “Listening to our customers’ feedback, observing their reactions, and engaging in conversation with customers lead to better product development.”

Mr. Holben went on to describe the significance of having the store open again after a long hiatus.

“The Coin Store in Washington, DC serves a dynamic purpose,” said Holben. “The location attracts D.C. area visitors who may not be numismatists, thus creating an opportunity to engage the customer and share why American coinage is so important. The store is also a gathering place for our existing customers to come in and enjoy our large inventory of coins and medals.”

The store will offer a wide variety of United States Mint coins and medals for sale. The initial inventory will include limited quantities of some 2021 American Eagle gold and silver coin products.

The store is giving away “swag bags” to the first 50 people who make a purchase.

The store will have sidewalk signage outside of the entrance letting customers know where to enter the building.

The store is located at 801 9th Street Northwest, Washington, DC Store hours will be 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday unless the day falls on a federal holiday. Many forms of payment are accepted, including Google Pay and Apple Pay . The store also offers touchless chip readers during checkout.

About the United States Mint

The United States Mint also produces numismatic products, including Proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. The Mint’s numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.

• US Mint News

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5 Reasons You Should Take a Tour of the United States Mint

Get our weekly picks of what to do this weekend and the latest on philly's arts and entertainment scene..

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Chances are, the coins jingling in your pocket or purse were probably made right here in Philadelphia at the United States Mint. Philly has been striking U.S. coinage since 1792, back when the City of Brotherly Love was still the nation’s capital. In those days, the U.S. Mint was housed in a complex of three small buildings situated at 631 Filbert Street, where once there stood a whiskey distillery. Horsepower helped run the presses that stamped out our nation’s early coins.

Today, the original facility commonly referred to as “Ye Olde Mint” is long gone. So, too, are the horse-operated coin presses. The U.S. Mint has moved its Philadelphia headquarters three times since 1833, when Ye Olde Mint struck its last coin. Today, the United States Mint stands as a mammoth-sized, 1969-vintage building at 151 North Independence Mall East, right in the heart of the Historic District and just two blocks from the site of the original U.S. Mint.

Visiting the U.S. Mint is a unique experience. It’s one of only two places in the United States where you can see the manufacture of our nation’s circulating coinage; there is a branch location of the U.S. Mint in Denver, but the other currently operating mint locations in San Francisco and West Point, NY, don’t offer public tours .

Tours at the Philadelphia Mint require no reservation and are self-guided. Much of the tour is a walk through a glass-walled corridor that flies about 40 feet above the coin press room, where most of the money-making action takes place. One of the first things you’ll witness on the tour are large copper and nickel coils measuring 13 inches wide and up to 1,500 feet in length being fed into a machine that cuts out coin-sized circular pieces of metal called blanks. These blanks will soon be processed into a machine that strikes designs on each blank coin, which you’ll see further along the corridor.

What else makes a trip to the U.S. Mint great? Well, if seeing tens of thousands of dollars in shiny, newly minted coins isn’t enough for you, I’ve laid out five reasons why the Mint is worth a visit:

1. It’s So Convenient to Major Heritage Attractions

The U.S. Mint is right across the street from National Constitution Center and roughly two blocks north of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. The Philadelphia Parking Authority offers an AutoPark garage at 41 6th Street, which is a short walk from the U.S. Mint. You’ll want to allow at least 1 hour to visit the Mint. So, at a minimum, that means you’ll spend $11.50 for 90 minutes of parking at that AutoPark—$16 for two hours. The Market-Frankford subway has a stop at 5th and Market streets, just one block from the Mint. If parking tolls and transit fares are bringing you down, don’t fret, because …

2. Admission to the U.S. Mint is Free!

See, so that’s not bad, right? Even if you shell out the $17 to cover the 10-hour parking fee along Independence Mall, at least you won’t need to pay a dime to get into the U.S. Mint. Remember, there are literally dozens of free things to do right in the heart of Philly, so you might as well build a whole day around your visit to the U.S. Mint. After all, staycations are fun.

3. Watch Money Get Made Right Before Your Very Eyes

The American Indian Head one-cent coin was produced by the United States Mint from 1859 to 1909 at the Philadelphia Mint. | Shutterstock.com

If you’ve ever been on a brewery tour or taken a trip over to Hersheypark to see the chocolate factory (the “real” factory tour closed in 1973, but at least you still get free chocolate at the end), you probably remember the joy of watching your favorite things come to life right before your very eyes. It’s pretty cool to see thousands of brand new coins roll off the presses and march off to circulation. Who knows—you may end up spending some of the very coins you saw get made. There’s just one problem … there are no free samples at the Mint.

• Philadelphia Mint Fun Fact:  Ever wanted to know what coins were made in Philly? Look for a little “P” near the date on nickels, dimes, and quarters made since 1980. That “P” is called a mintmark, and it identifies that coin as a Philadelphia-minted piece. Pennies without a letter under their dates were also made here in Philadelphia. Most, but not all, U.S. coins made before 1980 that don’t have a mintmark were also made in Philadelphia; by the way, a “D” identifies Denver coins, “S” represents coins from San Francisco, and the rarely seen “W” is stamped on West Point coins.

4. Meet Peter the Mint Eagle

Well, sorta … You see, Peter was a bald eagle who lived at the old Philadelphia Mint during the 1830s. He became something of a local celebrity. The Mint’s staff would let him out of the building to fly over the city during the day. Unfortunately, the beloved eagle was injured when the machinery he was perching on suddenly started. Despite attempts to save the ailing bird, he died at the Mint. His body was preserved and is now located inside the current Mint near the entrance. Many of today’s coin designers will still study Peter when they need inspiration for creating coin designs involving the nation’s official bird.

5. The Philadelphia Mint is One of the Largest Coining Facilities in the World

How about that? In fact, until January 2009, the Philadelphia Mint was the largest coining facility in the world. The Philly Mint covers some five acres of land and produces an average of 1 million coins every 30 minutes. Sound like a lot of coins? It was in the old days, that’s for sure—it would have taken the original Philadelphia Mint three years to strike that many coins.

• Philadelphia Mint Fun Fact No. 2:  More than 235 billion pennies have been minted in Philly since the first U.S. Mint facility opened here. Laid end to end, 235 billion pennies would wrap the earth more than 100 times.

Visiting the United States Mint

• Be sure tours are available on the day of your visit to the U.S. Mint. Generally, tour hours are from 9 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The Mint is closed during Federal holidays except for the summer holidays of Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. During summer, the U.S. Mint is also open on Saturdays from 9 am to 4:30 pm, and Sunday during those same hours on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. FYI: If you go on a weekend or holiday, you may not see anybody working the coining machines.
• Remember, the U.S. Mint security will ask all adults to show government-issued identification upon entry. The U.S. Mint is closed to the public during times when the Department of Homeland Security Threat Level is elevated to CODE ORANGE .
• If you or anybody else in your party has special needs, the officials at the U.S. Mint will be glad to assist. Just be sure to let arrival staff know of the special needs or request assistance in ahead of your visit by calling (215) 408-0110.
• While you’re at the Mint, make sure you swing by the David Rittenhouse Room on the mezzanine. That gallery, named for the first director of the United States Mint, is where you’ll find an extraordinary collection of rare and valuable old coins .
• Don’t forget to bring some spending money with you. There’s a unique gift shop where you can buy special-proof coin presentation sets and other interesting items. And, unlike many of those coin sets you see advertised on TV commercials at 3 in the morning, these are honest-to-goodness, made-at-the-U.S.-Mint ones that really do make memorable keepsakes.

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Tips for Visiting the United States Mint in Denver

TripSavvy / Vincent Mercer

Denver's early settlers came for the gold. So it makes sense that the city, to this day, is producing riches, right? 

The U.S. Mint in Denver is one of four mints in the country that produces coins, and visitors can get an insider look at what happens in this money-making factory. 

The other three coin mints are located in Philadelphia, San Francisco and West Point, N.Y. The main U.S. Mint in Washington, D.C., is the only one in the country to print paper currency.

First, a little history: The U.S. Mint in Denver began producing pennies, dimes, nickels and quarters in 1906. The Denver Mint also produced foreign coins for countries such as Argentina, Mexico and Israel. However, the U.S. Mint has not struck foreign coins since 1984. Every year, the U.S. Mint in Denver produces billions of coins for the American public. 

The U.S. Mint in Denver and the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia are the only two mints that offer public tours, which is one of the reasons it's a popular tour among locals and tourists alike. After the tour in Denver, you can pop in the gift shop and buy one-of-a-kind coins and souvenirs. 

Here's what you need to know before touring the U.S. Mint in Denver.

Hours and Admission

The U.S. Mint in Denver offers free, 45-minute tours of its production facility from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday.

No cameras, food, backpacks or weapons are allowed on the tour.

Visitors also must pass through security screening to enter the Mint.

The U.S. Mint in Denver is closed on federal holidays.

Admission to the U.S. Mint in Denver is free, but reservations are required for the tours.

You can nab your free tour tickets at the "Tour Information" window located at the Gift Shop entrance gate on Cherokee Street, between West Colfax Avenue and West 14th Avenue. The Tour Information window opens at 7 a.m., Monday- Thursday (excluding observed federal holidays), and will remain open until all tickets have been distributed. Tickets are for same-day tours, and more advanced reservations can't be made. You're limited to reserving five tickets. Worth noting: During peak travel times, such as Spring Break and Winter Break, tickets become more limited because they are in such high demand. Visitors often arrive as early as 5 a.m. to secure their tickets. 

The U.S. Mint offers six tours a day. The times are: 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

About the Tour

The free tours are limited to around 50 people per tour, and a Mint guide takes visitors through the production process. Visitors are not allowed on the production floor, but can view machines from windows looking down on the manufacturing process. Security guards accompany tours at all times. Tours are not recommended for children younger than age seven.

After the tour, visitors can purchase Mint merchandise such as T-shirts and piggy banks at the gift shop currently located in a small trailer. However, no coin sales are conducted at the gift shop besides automated machines that exchange dollar bills for $1 coins. To purchase coin sets, visit the U.S. Mint online store .

Directions and Address

The U.S. Mint in Denver is located on West Colfax Avenue near the City & County Building and Denver Police. From I-25, exit on Colfax Avenue and head east toward downtown Denver. The Mint is located between Delaware Street and Cherokee Street.

The U.S. Mint in Denver 320 W. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80204

• Each U.S. Mint strikes a mintmark on its coins. Coin enthusiasts can identify coins produced at the Denver Mint by looking for a 'D.'
• The U.S. Mint was formed on April 2, 1792 with the Coinage Act of 1792.
• The U.S. Mint in Denver produced the first Congressional Medal.

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United States Mint

Where pocket change and commemorative coins are made

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Location & Contact:

• 151 N. Independence Mall East Philadelphia, PA, 19106
• (215) 408-0112
• Visit Website

Even though the U.S. capital moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in 1800, the manufacture of coins and medals has stayed primarily in Philadelphia for the past two centuries.

Though there are mints in Denver and San Francisco, at least half of the nation’s circulating coins, and most of the commemorative medals, are struck in this building; the trademark “P” on any coin indicates its origin in Philadelphia.

United States Mint visitors get to watch operations on the floor – from high above and behind protective glass, to be sure.

Interactive displays depict the many presidential and honorary commemoratives designed and made here, as well as early mint and coining equipment and rare and historic coins.

The History

At least half of the nation’s circulating coins are struck in this building.

The first U.S. Mint opened in 1792 at 7th and Arch streets, only two blocks from the current facility; it was the first new government structure in the new country.

George Washington, who lived nearby, was said to have donated his own silver to make some of the first coins.

The current building, opened in 1969, is the fourth Philadelphia Mint.

Things to Do

The Mint offers public tours on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. except on federal holidays. Summer hours extend to Saturdays.

With its own displays of rare and interesting coins, the gift shop is an attraction in itself.

Don’t Miss

Before he died, that stuffed bird in the lobby was the mint’s adopted pet; he was allowed to fly among the coins for good luck.

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• Independence National Historic Park

The Perfect Hotel Package for an Easy Philly Escape

The  Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.

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