The Mint That Served Two Nations
The Old U.S. Mint at the edge of the French Quarter holds a distinction no other building in America can claim: it's the only mint facility that produced both United States and Confederate coinage. From 1838 to 1861, and again from 1879 to 1909, the New Orleans Mint stamped out gold and silver coins that circulated across a growing nation. During the Civil War, when Louisiana seceded, the Confederacy briefly seized the facility and used it to produce its own currency — a short-lived operation that produced some of the rarest coins in American numismatic history.
Over its lifetime, the mint produced more than 427 million gold and silver coins of nearly every American denomination, with a total face value exceeding $307 million. Coins stamped at the New Orleans Mint are identified by the "O" mint mark, a small letter that makes collectors' eyes light up to this day. An "O" on a coin means it passed through this building, on this corner, at the edge of the French Quarter, where the sound of stamping presses once competed with the sounds of the nearby French Market.
From Currency to Culture
The building itself is a Greek Revival fortress designed by William Strickland, one of the leading architects of the early Republic. Its thick walls, imposing columns, and solid construction were meant to project the stability and permanence of the federal government in a city that was then one of the wealthiest — and most strategically important — in North America. The mint sat at the intersection of commerce and empire, turning raw metal into the money that fueled westward expansion and the cotton trade.
After the mint closed in 1909, the building served various purposes before eventually becoming a museum. Today, it houses the New Orleans Jazz Museum, which is fitting. If the building spent its first life turning metal into money, its second life is dedicated to the city's other great export — the music that turned New Orleans into a cultural capital. The permanent collection includes instruments, recordings, photographs, and artifacts tracing jazz from its roots in Congo Square and Storyville to its global influence.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Old U.S. Mint
What makes the Old U.S. Mint unique?
It is the only mint facility in the United States to have produced both American and Confederate coinage, giving it a unique place in the history of the Civil War and American currency.
How many coins were produced at the New Orleans Mint?
The mint produced over 427 million gold and silver coins across nearly every American denomination, with a total face value exceeding $307 million.
What is the "O" mint mark?
Coins produced at the New Orleans Mint bear a small "O" mint mark. These coins are highly sought after by collectors and can carry significant premium value.
What is in the Old U.S. Mint building today?
The building now houses the New Orleans Jazz Museum, featuring instruments, recordings, photographs, and artifacts documenting the history of jazz from its New Orleans origins to its worldwide influence.
When was the Old U.S. Mint built?
The mint was designed by architect William Strickland and began operations in 1838. It operated as a U.S. Mint from 1838-1861 and again from 1879-1909.
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