The United States Mint at New Orleans produced coins for less than 60 years. In that short span of time, it minted more than 421 million coins in silver and gold, and is best know for the Morgan Silver Dollars it produced. But its history is not without controversy or conflict.
Background of the New Orleans Mint
The United States Mint at New Orleans operated from 1838 to 1861 and 1879 to 1909. On May 7, 1838, the first 30 dimes were struck at the branch. The mint produced every issue of U.S. coin that was struck in its years as a United State Mint branch with the exclusion of pennies and nickels.
New Orleans Mint Operations During the Civil War
Louisiana seceded from the United States on January 26, 1861. Confederates retained control of the Mint office, its staff, and the $483,983 in gold and silver coins in the building.
After the Confederate States took possession of the Mint, staff continued striking regular U.S.-design 1861-O Liberty Seated half dollars under Confederate authority until bullion supplies were exhausted in April. Only four original half dollars with the distinctive Confederate reverse design were struck. Mint staff continued reporting for duty until May 31, after which the building was used to house Confederate troops. Union naval forces, led by Admiral David Farragut, recaptured the town of New Orleans the following year.
After the Civil War ended, the building received new minting equipment and began producing coins again in 1879. The Mint operated until 1909 and has been a Louisiana State Museum branch since 1981.
Collecting Coins from the New Orleans Mint
Finding the half dimes, dimes, quarters, half dollars, dollars, and larger denomination gold coins from the New Orleans Mint can prove challenging. Since it has not produced any coins since 1909, many of these coins have been added to collections and carry a high premium.
U.S. Coins Produced at the New Orleans Mint by Year and Series
If a collector wanted to build a full assembly of coins from the New Orleans Mint, this list is a good starting point.
| Coin | Coin Series | Years Issued |
| Three Cent Pieces | Three Cent Silver | 1851 |
| Half Dime | Seated Liberty | 1838-1842, 1844, 1848-1860 |
| Dime | Seated Liberty | 1838-1843, 1845, 1849-1860, 1891 |
| Dime | Barber | 1892-1903, 1905-1909 |
| Quarter | Seated Liberty | 1840-1844, 1847, 1849-1860, 1891 |
| Quarter | Barber | 1892-1909 |
| Half Dollar | Capped Bust | 1838-1839 |
| Half Dollar | Seated Liberty | 1840-1861 |
| Half Dollar | Barber | 1892-1909 |
| Dollar | Seated Liberty | 1846, 1850, 1859-1860 |
| Dollar | Morgan | 1879-1904 |
| Gold Dollar | Liberty Head | 1849-1853 |
| Gold Dollar | Indian Princess | 1855 |
| Gold Quarter Eagle | Classic Head | 1839 |
| Gold Quarter Eagle | Liberty Head | 1840, 1842-1843, 1845-1847, 1850-1852, 1854, 1856-1857 |
| Gold Three Dollars | Indian Head | 1854 |
| Gold Half Eagle | Liberty Head | 1840-1847, 1851, 1854-1857, 1892-1894 |
| Gold Half Eagle | Indian Head | 1909 |
| Gold Eagle | Liberty Head | 1841-1860, 1879-1883, 1888, 1892-1895, 1897, 1899, 1901, 1903-1904, 1906 |
| Gold Double Eagle | Liberty Head | 1850-1861, 1879 |
Confederate Coins Produced at the New Orleans Mint
Confederate officials redesigned the reverse of the 1861 Seated Liberty half dollar to create a Confederate half dollar, but only four originals with that Confederate reverse are known to have been struck. Separately, about 962,633 of the 2,532,633 1861-O Liberty Seated half dollars were regular U.S.-design coins struck under Confederate authority.
Why did the New Orleans Mint Close?
The New Orleans Mint branch was largely dependent on the Morgan silver dollar and to a lesser degree, gold coins. When the Morgan silver dollar series ended in 1904, there simply were not enough coins for the branch to strike. As a result, the mint ceased coinage operations in 1909, and in 1911, the branch was officially closed, and its equipment moved to Philadelphia.
