The U.S. Congress completes a bill to establish a new mint in Denver, Colorado

Congress voted to establish a branch mint in Denver, Colorado, appropriating $75,000 and purchasing the building of the private company that had been minting coins and ingots there.  The facility opened on September 24, 1863, however, only as an assay office.  So it remained until 1904 when a new full minting facility was built.  It first struck coins in February 1906 and in 2012 was the world's largest producer of coinage.  (By John Osborne)