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Message:: [QUOTE="Hobo, post: 914926, member: 11521"]I am in Gainesville, GA this week (about 15 miles SE of Dahlonega). Today I took a stroll to the square in Downtown Gainesville where there is a historical marker for the Templeton Reid Mint. In the center of the square is Hall County's Confederate Memorial.  The historical marker, which was placed by the Hall County Historical Society in 1978, reads: FIRST PRIVATE MINT TEMPLETON REID MINT 1830-1831   Two hundred yards west, on the north side of Washington Street is the site of the first private mint in the United States to manufacture gold coins in dollar values. During the Georgia gold rush, trade suffered due to a shortage of sound money. There were few coins in circulation and most business was by barter. Templeton Reid (ca. 1787-1851), Milledgeville silversmith and expert machinist, saw an answer to the problem. He decided to buy raw gold, refine it and stamp coins of a proven value, acceptable in any transaction. In 1830 he cme to Gainesville, Georgia and opened an assay office. With machines and dies of his design and make he began to strike coins of $2.50, $5.00 and $10.00 denominations. Although questioned by many, this was legal under the U.S. Constitution. The business was not profitable and closed in 1831. The Reid gold coins minted in Gainesville are extremely rare and are eagerly sought by collectors. The last photo is a shot of the block where the Templeton Reid Mint was located.[/QUOTE]