United States Mint
151 North Independence Mall East
Philadelphia, PA 19106-1886
(215) 408-0110
www.usmint.gov/mint_tours/index.cfm...

The Philadelphia Mint produces all denominations of coins, plus a wide variety of commemorative coins and medals. The process is illustrated in a Self-Guided 30- to 60-minute tour that begins in the Lobby.

Here are huge bins filled with coins, and display cases showing rare coins and commemoratives. The lobby walls display beautiful Tiffany mosaics that tell the story of how coins were made in ancient times.

The second floor Tour Gallery is a narrow passage lined with interesting displays and push-button audio presentations. Rounding the corner at the end of the hall, visitors find themselves standing above the Mint itself, looking down at a vast array of machinery tended by people producing coins and medals.

Each operation is explained by signs and recordings -- blanking, annealing and washing, riddling (sorting out poorly shaped or sized coins), upsetting (creating the coins' rim), striking, inspecting, and counting and bagging.

The Mezzanine level features the Coining Press used at the first Mint in 1792 and other Mint artifacts. See a dazzling collection of gold coins in the Rittenhouse Room.

The tour is fun and certainly educational. Groups are welcome at any time without reservation, though the Mint requests that groups of 50 or more split up. Teachers can purchase an instructional Guide and Video for a reasonable fee. Cameras are not permitted in the Mint..

Security-wise, entering the mint is like boarding a plane. So leave your hair brush, ball point pen and hand lotion at home. Visit the official website, linked above, for the full picture.