Community College of Philadelphia (1973-)
1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia PA
© Harry Kyriakodis
(2007)
North facade facing Spring
Garden Street—almost never sees the sun.
Photo © Steven A.
Ives (2007).
The nation's first Mint was established in Philadelphia
through the efforts of Robert Morris, Thomas Jefferson,
and Alexander Hamilton, and formalized by act of Congress
on April 2, 1792. David Rittenhouse was the first
Director. The original United States Mint stood on the
east side of Seventh Street above Market (1792-1833), and
was the first federal building erected under the
Constitution. From 1833 until 1901, the Mint occupied the
present site of the Widener Building at Juniper and
Chestnut Streets. In 1801, "An Act concerning the Mint,"
was approved directing that a federal mint should remain
in Philadelphia until March 4th, 1803. A Mint has
remained in the city since then and will probably always
be in Philadelphia.
This structure was the third U.S. Mint erected in
Philadelphia. Built in 1901, this was the finest and
best-equipped mint in the world in its day, as well as
the largest money manufactory in the world. In one year
alone, the Philadelphia Mint made 501,000,000 coins,
which was five-sevenths of all the currency minted in
this country. In addition, 90,000,000 coins for foreign
countries were turned out. The building is a block long
and has a Roman temple's facade. Massive Ionic columns
lead to a lobby with vaulted ceilings bejeweled with
Tiffany glass mosaics depicting ancient Roman methods of
coinage. Marble is ubiquitous.
The third Mint was built here because, at the time, the
United States Smelting Company was at Broad and Spring
Garden Streets, only a block away. And the nearby William
Sellers Company supplied the Mint with new machine tools,
as did other machine shops in the area. Furthermore, the
nearby Reading Railroad City Branch tracks were ideal for
receiving supplies and transporting the finished product
around the United States.
Photo © Steven A.
Ives (2007).
The Philadelphia Mint operated here until 1969 when it
moved away, just like the other industries in this area.
It was acquired by the Community College of Philadelphia
in 1973. The present Philadelphia Mint occupies an entire
city block at 5th and Arch Streets.