The History of United States Coinage As Illustrated by the Garrett Collection

On December 14, 1853, the United States Assay Office of Gold ceased operations. Machinery and equipment were transferred to the new San Francisco Mint.

On July 3, 1852, Congress passed an act for the establishment of a branch mint in San Francisco. Proposals for the erection of a building were advertised, but no contract was awarded. On March 3, 1853, the deadline for receipt of proposals was extended. The construction contract was given to a Mr. Butler at $239,000. This was subsequently acquired by Curtis, Perry & Ward, who negotiated a new contract with the secretary of the Treasury. The partnership undertook to provide both the building and machinery. Curtis supervised construction details while Perry tended to arrangements for the machinery.

Part of the Curtis, Perry & Ward establishment was utilized in the construction. The San Francisco Mint, as finished, consisted of a structure 60 feet square and 3 stories high; 20 feet wider on the western side than the earlier private mint, which measured 40 by 60 feet.

With the capacity of coining nearly $100,000 in gold daily, or $30 million per year, the San Francisco Mint began operations on April 3, 1854. On April 15th, the first coins, double eagles each of the federal design and with a distinctive S mintmark, were struck.

Wass, Molitor & Co.

Among the private issuers of gold coins in San Francisco Wass, Molitor & Co. was one of the most important, although their initial production did not begin until relatively late, in 1852. Count S. C. Wass and A. P. Molitor, Hungarians, earlier were engaged in refining and assaying as a notice in the San Francisco Herald, November 19, 1851, observes:

Messrs. Wass, Molitor & Co. have removed their establishment into Naglee's fireproof building, in Merchant St., where they are now busily engaged in smelting irons of all kinds, melting down and assaying gold for the largest houses in the city, and attending generally to all business connected with mining, for which their scientific attainments and long experience eminently fit them. They have now an excellent laboratory, fitted up in the most approved style, with powerful furnaces and every species of apparatus required from the most delicate and accurate analyses.

These gentlemen have acquired a thorough and practical knowledge of mining and all its ramifications, in the celebrated School of Mines of Germany; having perfected that knowledge by working in the gold mines of their native land-Hungary-for many years, and later those of this country. This establishment therefore is almost the only one in California capable of making those delicate assays which are so much needed just at this time.

They are prepared to furnish mining plans and information as to the best and cheapest method of working the mines, which will be invaluable at the present time, when attention is so much directed toward them. We consider the scientific experience of these gentlemen a valuable acquisition to the State. They are compatriots and were companions-in-arms of the heroic Kossuth throughout the memorable Hungarian Revolution. Their hope of liberty in their native land crushed, their fortunes confiscated, and themselves exiled by the ruthless Austrian, they have sought a home in our land, the refuge of the oppressed of every nation.