Foreign Coins Struck at United States Mints

Set Description
The inspiration for this Signature Set began with a series of three Beginners’ Workshop articles by Eric von Klinger entitled simply “Foreign coins from U.S. Mint,” which appeared in Coin World in July and August of 2004. They sparked my interest, and after further research, I decided to pursue this collection.

The authorization for the striking of coins for foreign countries by the U.S. Mint, came in an act of Congress on January 29, 1874. It provides for coins to be struck for any foreign country, provided that it does not interfere with the production of coins for the United States. The actual legislation is very short, so it is included here:

An act authorizing coinage to be executed at the Mint of the United States for foreign countries
[January 29, 1874]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be lawful for coinage to be executed at the mints of the United States, for any foreign countries applying for the same, according to the legally prescribed standards and devices of such country, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe; and the charge for the same shall be equal to the expense thereof, including labor, materials, and use of machinery, to be fixed by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury: Provided, That the manufacture of such coin shall not interfere with the required coinage of the United States

With the exception of the Icelandic commemorative in 2000, this series spanned the years of 1875 through 1984.This basic set (i.e. excluding the prolific output of the Franklin Mint) consists of over 1000 different coins from over 40 different nations and colonies. Coins of all sizes, shapes, denominations, and metallic content are included. I think it is safe to say that that this set will never be complete.

I've chosen to include the coins minted by The Mint of the Philippine Islands (aka The Mania Mint) which is often mistakenly identified as "the only U.S. branch mint built outside the continental United States." The Philippine Mint was a U.S. Mint, however it was not a branch of the THE U.S. Mint. When it first began operations in June of 1920, it was was part of the Philippine Department of Finance. The entire Philippine Government at the time was overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Insular Affairs which was part of the U.S. Department of War. The secretary of the Department of War reported directly to the President of the United States. Connecting the dots, The Mint of the Philippine Islands was actually a branch of the U.S. Department of War. From an administrative perspective, the President of the United States was the only person who could direct both THE U.S. Mint and the Mint of the Philippine Islands. There was no other administrative relationship between them, although it operated as if it was a branch of the U.S. Mint. This explains why coins minted in Manila were not reported in the annual report of the director of the mint. However, the dies produced in Philadelphia for use in Manila were reported.

In addition to coins minted by the U.S. Mints, I have included coins from the private mints in the United States that also produced coins to foreign countries.

UPDATE: 1/8/2021
I would like to thank NGC for recognizing this set with the "Most Informative Set" award for 2021. The following are the judges comments concerning this set.

In 1874 Congress authorized the U. S. Mint to produce contract coinage for other nations, and this fabulous set tells the whole story in words and photos. Also included are coins struck by commercial mints in the USA for other countries. This set is so big that it runs to 12 pages, and a bit of spot checking suggests that it is indeed complete. Both the accompanying photos and background text for each entry are excellent, and this landmark collection could be published as a book.


References

• "Foreign coins from U.S. Mint," Coin World, July, 19, 2004, pp. 16, 18. - This article provides an overview and history of the series.
• "Foreign coins from U.S. Mint," Coin World, August 23, 2004, pp. 18. - Part I of the listing of dates, countries, and denominations.
• "Foreign coins from U.S. Mint," Coin World, August 30, 2004, pp. 16, 18. - Part II of the listing of dates, countries, and denominations.
• Foreign Coins Stuck At United States Mints, by Charles G. Altz and E.H. Barton, Whitman Publishing Company, Racine, Wisconsin, 1964. (Out of print, but used copies can be found without much difficulty by searching the internet.)
• Domestic and Foreign Coins Manufactured by Mints of the United States 1793-1980, by the Department of the Treasury/Bureau of the Mint and issued by the Government Printing Office Washington in 1981.
• Foreign Coins Struck at Mints in The United States, by Philip Steiner and Michael Zimpfer, Wispering Pines Printing, Indiana, 1974. (Out of Print)
• "The U.S. Mint Goes to War," Jeff Starck, Coin World, December 2011, Vol. 52, Issue 2695, pp 135-144
• Standard Catalog of World Coins, Krause Publications, various editions.

Set Goals
A complete set of foreign coins produced by mints in the United States. These include:

1. A complete collection of world coins minted by US Mints (with varieties). (1876-2000)
2. A complete set of coins and medals produced by the Philippine Mint in Manila. (1920-1941).
3. A complete set of coins minted by the Providence Mint, operated by the Gorham Manufacturing Company. (1897-1919)
4. A complete set of coins minted by the Waterbury Mint, operated by the Scovill Manufacturing Company. (1881-1908)
5. A complete set of coins minted by the private mint of Holmes, Booth & Hayden, Waterbury, Connecticut. (1863-1864)
6. A complete set of coins produced by The Denver Novelty Works and Manufacturing Company. (1914)
7. Any "coins of the realm" produced by the Franklin Mint that I can easily acquire. (1965-2000)

Rev. 9/15/2022