For numismatists, few things are more fascinating than learning the story of coins that are in their collection — except maybe learning the history of an area branch of the U.S. Mint. The Dahlonega Mint was first established in 1835 and was one of three mints chartered that year, all located in the south, and was created for the coinage of gold only. The other two mints were added in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Charlotte, North Carolina, with only New Orleans getting the addition of silver coins to its lineup. The story of the mint follows that of local politics, and while the Dahlonega Mint was only in operation from 1838 through 1861, this was a rich time in Georgia history. Continue reading “The Long and Fascinating History of the Dahlonega Mint”