A Visit To The Dahlonega Branch Mint

The Dahlonega Branch Mint began operations in 1838 and minted gold coins (using Georgia gold and later California gold) until Georgia seceded from the Union in 1861. The Mint staff reportedly continued to strike gold coins for the Confederate States of America until June 1861 when the Mint ceased minting operations. The Dahlonega Mint was used by the Confederacy as an Assay Office and repository during the Civil War. After the war the Mint building became part of North Georgia Agricultural College (later North Georgia College). The Mint building burned in 1878. A college administration building was built on the Mint building's foundation in 1879.

I am in Georgia for the holidays. Today I helped some relatives clean off an old family cemetery plot (my great-grandparents) at a small community 7 miles from Dahlonega. It has been several years since I have been to Dahlonega and I didn't want to miss this opportunity to visit it again. I talked my aunt and uncle into going to Dahlonega so I could visit the Gold Museum and the site of the former Mint. (Much to my uncle's chagrin my aunt spent the time shopping in some of the many antique shops.)

So I took a whirlwind tour of the Gold Museum and snapped a few shots of the building sitting on the foundation of the Dahlonega Mint. (For some reason I failed to take a pic of the Gold Museum. It is housed in the former Lumpkin County Courthouse - the oldest surviving courthouse building in Georgia.)

One thing I learned today was a photo of the Dahlonega Mint building was discovered recently (I think during renovation of a building on the college campus). It is the only known photograph of the Mint building.

When I paid my admission to the Gold Museum I asked if I would get a coin when I left. After talking coins with one of the Gold Museum tour guides she gave me a "coin". The "coin" is actually a brass token used by a local coin dealer as his business card. This cool piece has the obverse of the gold coins produced by the Dahlonega Mint during its early years. I'll post a pic when I am able to take a suitable photo.


The pics below are:

• North Georgia College Admin Building (on the foundation of the Dahlonega Mint). It's spire roof is covered with Dahlonega Gold.
• Monument beside the Admin Building recognizing the Dahlonega Mint. This monument is located along the front of the Admin Building beside the downspout on the far right in the photo.
• Water Cannon used around Dahlonega for hydraulic mining (displayed in Gold Museum)
• Complete Set of Dahlonega Gold Coins (on display in Gold Museum)

 

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Below is the only known photo of the Dahlonega Branch Mint. It was reportedly taken in 1877 and includes military cadets.

 

In case you are wondering how to pronounce Dahlonega it is:

duh-LAH-ni-ga

I have heard some people butcher the pronunciation of Dahlonega. The worst rhymes with Talladega.

 

Really Nice, thanks for sharing. Nice history lesson.

 

very cool!

 

It was very nice to share that with us. Do you know anything else about the coins that were minted there?

 

who is up for a 2 am trip to srape the spire

 

I've always pronounced it to rhyme with talladega.

Awsome info, are the plaque coins unc or varying grades?

 

Excellent photos and thanks for sharing.

 

Only thing better

Is doing it your self.
Great post!!!

 

The monument appeared to be AU. Some of the coins appeared Unc and some appeared circulated. I couldn't get a great view of them. (The coins are kept inside a safe behind glass.)

 

Very nice story about the mint, and great pictures I know that assembly of gold coins are on my wish list for xmas.

 

Below is a photo of the Dahlonega Gold Museum.

 

Very cool. Too bad it burned. That is an amazing gold set.

 

Hobo, my niece attends college at Dohlanega. My sister and brother in law live about 45 minutes from the college. Here's 2 pictures that I took of the dome in October of 2007 on my visit there.

Lou

 

Looks like you uploaded the wrong pics. Nice butterfly though.

 

Yes, wrong pics. Sorry about that. :goof:

Lou

 

Nice pics! That Georgia gold sure does gleam. Have you seen the dome of the State Capitol building in Atlanta? That's Dahlonega gold that covers it too.

 

No I haven't seen the capital building. But you know the hole time I was in Dohlanega my thoughts where on getting a new metal detector. :smile

Lou