Old San Francisco Mint

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Old San Francisco Mint

The Old San Francisco Mint, also known as the Old United States Mint or The Granite Lady, is a historic building at Fifth and Mission Streets in San Francisco. Construction began on April 1, 1869 and was completed in November 1874. It was designed by architect Alfred B. Mullett in a Greek Revival style, with an E-shaped layout around a central courtyard and a roof about 52.5 feet high. The project cost about $2.13 million.

The building survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. Its central courtyard contained a well that helped protect the structure, and the exterior is mainly sandstone built over a granite basement. At the time of the fire, the mint held about $300 million in gold, a large portion of the United States’ bullion, which was saved by Superintendent Frank A. Leach and his men. The mint operated as the San Francisco branch of the U.S. Mint from 1874 to 1937, after which the current San Francisco Mint opened.

In 1961 the Old Mint was designated a National Historic Landmark, and in 1974 it became a California Historical Landmark. The nickname “The Granite Lady” is largely marketing; most of the exterior is sandstone, with a granite basement.

In 2003 the federal government sold the building to the City of San Francisco for one dollar (the 1879 silver dollar minted there) to be used as a historical museum. Renovations began in 2005, and the first phase was completed in 2011. In 2006 Congress created the San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin, the first coin to honor a U.S. mint. From 2014 to 2016, efforts continued to develop permanent exhibitions and programming. In 2016, the California Historical Society agreed to help with restoration, and the space has been used for special events and exhibitions.