After returning to Cheyenne, Wyoming, following a two-month Scandinavian adventure, I realized I had a free Marriott night that was about to expire. This was one of the last vestiges of my former job, which required a fair amount of travel.

Not one to let such perks go unused, I started brainstorming with Heather about possible options. We settled on Denver, which is relatively close – about 1.5 hours away – because we had been wanting to tour the U.S. Mint.

Denver, Colorado: Touring the U.S. Mint

I was able to use my reward night at a hotel about two blocks from the Mint. This was ideal as there are no advance tickets – you have to line up in the morning on the day you would like a tour and hope for the best.

I was sixth in line when the ticket window opened at 7 a.m. After I secured two tickets for the 9:30 a.m. tour, I walked back to our hotel to join my lovely wife for breakfast. She was already on her seventh or eighth cup of coffee so the timing was perfect.

After breakfast we walked to the Mint for our tour. We were a little early so we stopped in the gift shop, which was full of proof sets and other coin collector paraphernalia. Of interest was a change machine that provided uncirculated quarters. I happily traded a well worn greenback for four new quarters, two of which feature Celia Cruz as part of the American Women Quarters Program.

We waited a short time in line outside the Mint before the gates opened for our airport-style security screening. We had to fully turn off our phones as there is no photography allowed inside the Mint. We looked at the exhibits inside the screening area and were given a newly minted penny along with a blank planchet as a souvenir.

Even though the ticket clearly states no late arrivals, the actual tour didn’t start until 10:15 a.m. and they let people join right up until then. We watched a short film about the Mint in the upstairs lobby area, which has an early nineties feel and plenty of mauve accents, before entering a viewing area above the coin production.

The guides were very knowledgeable and described the process of making coins. There were some used dies on display and plenty of time for questions. It was neat to see the bins of newly minted pennies pass by the viewing windows.

The next room had more history on Mint security (fun fact: a U.S. Mint has never been robbed) and views of the machines that produce quarters and half dollars. The guides explained the business model of the Mint, which is to sell coins to the U.S. Treasury at face value. This means they lose money on pennies and nickels, but make it up on dimes and quarters. Overall the Mint is self sufficient and makes a profit, which goes toward paying down the national debt each year.

The next tour stop was in the original portion of the building. Construction started in 1897 and the interior is very ornate with pink, white, and green granite on the walls and Tiffany-style chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

The tour continued down a staircase past a machine gunner’s post where a guard would have a clear view of the entrance in the past. Now there is a mannequin in period-correct clothing. The tour concludes in the historical lobby entrance. Decommissioned tear gas ports contrast with the lobby murals depicting commerce, mining, and manufacturing. 

Overall the Mint tour was a good experience, and I would recommend it if you are in the Denver area and have an interest in history, coins, or both.