The Mint Story
The Old Mint is one of the most important national historic landmarks in the United States. Built between 1869 and 1873, the Old U.S. Mint is one of the few significant buildings in the center of San Francisco to survive the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. During its sixty-three years of minting operations, the building played a vital role in the national economy - it produced over 59% of US gold and silver less than a year after construction, and was the secure repository of one-third of the nation's gold reserves during the Great Depression. Now, with the planned restoration and conversion of the Old Mint into a new 21st century cultural institution, this National Historic Landmark will again be a center of service to its community.
ALFRED BULT MULLETTApr.7, 1834 - Oct 20, 1890
Mullett was an American architect who served from 1866 to 1874 as Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury Department. His work followed trends in the Victorian style, evolving from Greek Revival to Second Empire to Richardsonian Romanesque.
The Old Mint serves as a rare monumental example of the late Greek Revival period. The original construction epitomizes late 19th century "fire-proof" building technologies, construction techniques, and noteworthy craftsmanship.