Coins

Philadelphia Mint Tours

The Philadelphia Mint tour is a self-guided tour of the facility.

It takes you through a walkway with windows that allow you to look at the numerous machines and processes required to make a coin in the U.S.

There are audio and visual aids throughout the tour which explain and illustrate the parts of the minting process as you are viewing them.
 

My Visit To The Philadelphia Mint

In 1995, when I was a teenager, my family and I took a tour of the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. We had to park our vehicle in a parking garage a couple blocks away. Once we passed security and got into the mint, my family and I walked along the windowed corridors which overlook the minting process.

It was early November and there were very few other tourists at the Philadelphia Mint, which was nice -- no waiting! Nor did we have to squeeze between people to catch a glimpse at the action going on inside the mint!

I recall being particularly interested at how large the operations were. Thousands of coins were being minted every minute!

There was an audio track which explained the stage in the minting process that was occurring wherever we were throughout the self-guided tour. That was nice, because I would not have known what I was looking at, were it not for the audio track. Honestly, all the minting machines at the Philadelphia Mint looked the same to me at the time.

My family and I stopped by the gift shop afterwards. I got to push a button that struck an image onto a piece of bronze medal. The bronze medal cost $2. I don't know what it costs today.

For $4, I picked up a souvenir set of coins. This is a set of 6 pieces: one example of the 5 denominations struck for circulation at the Philadelphia Mint that year, and a bronze medal honoring the Philadelphia Mint facility. Souvenir sets, however, are no longer being made.

Planning Your Philadelphia Mint Tour

Try to allow a good couple hours for your visit of the Philadelphia Mint. You will need time to pass security inspections, wait in line, take the tour, and then perhaps spend a few coins of your own at the Philadelphia Mint's gift shop afterward.

Be sure you realize that the new security laws may get in the way if you are hoping to take along a camera to snap shots of the minting process.

The U.S. Mint, like most governmental agencies, is going to great lengths to ensure the protection and safety of both, facilities and people. To do this, the U.S. Mint restricts what you may bring along with you on a tour of the facility.

Here's a brief list of the things you cannot take inside the Philadelphia mint:

• cameras
   
• sharp items (pens, knives, needles, etc.)
   
• guns and ammunition
   
• food and beverages
   
• tobacco
   
• bags larger than 14" x 13" x 4" 

The Philadelphia Mint's tour hours are 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The facility is closed on Federal holidays.

The Philadelphia Mint does not offer any parking on its property, but there are several parking lots and parking garages within a walking distance from the Philadelphia Mint. There are also public transportation services throughout downtown Philadelphia.

More about U.S. Mint tours.

Take A Virtual Tour Of The Philadelphia Mint

If you can't get a chance to stop by the Philadelphia Mint, then take a virtual tour of the Philadelphia Mint online!

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• Establishment Of The Philadelphia Mint
   
• Historical And Fun Facts About The U.S. Mint
   
• What It's Like To Tour The Philadelphia Mint
   
• U.S. Treasury FAQ About Tours & More
   
• History of the Philadelphia Mint
   
• U.S. Treasury Facts About The Philadelphia Mint