Editing West Point Mint

{{Mint
|name= West Point Mint
|image= [[File:West Point Mint.jpg|220px]]
|caption= Mint building in West Point
|location= {{wp|en|West Point, New York|West Point}}, [[New York]], [[United States]]
|coordinates= [https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=West_Point_Mint&params=41_23_57_N_73_58_46_W_region:US_type:landmark 41°23′57″N 73°58′46″W]
|built= 1937
|established= [[1937]]
|governed by= [[United States Mint]]
|issues= [[United States dollar|United States]] [[coinage]]
}}
The '''West Point Mint''', formerly the '''West Point Bullion Depository''', is a branch of the [[United States Mint]] located near the {{wp|en|United States Military Academy}} in {{wp|en|West Point}}, [[New York]]. It was formerly a storage facility for [[silver]] bullion, but at one point began circulating [[United States penny|pennies]]. Today, the mint only produces [[commemorative coin]]s bearing a "'''W'''" mintmark, and stores [[gold]].

==History==
[[File:1984_Olympics_USD-W.jpg|thumb|left|220px|The first U.S. coin to bear the "W" mintmark.]]
The West Point Mint building was built in [[1937]] by {{wp|en|Louis A. Simon}}, first serving as a silver bullion storage, which was led to the nickname, "The [[United States Bullion Depository|Fort Knox]] of Silver". Even without United States Mint status, West Point produced U.S. coinage. From [[1973]] to [[1986]], the facility produced [[Lincoln cent]]s without a [[mint mark]], making them impossible to distinguish from the coins produced at the [[Philadelphia Mint]]. From [[1977]] to [[1979]], West Point also produced [[United States quarter|bicentennial quarters]] and Washington quarters. Approximately 20 billion dollars worth of gold was stored at West Point during the early [[1980s]], though it did not compare to the amounts at Fort Knox.

During [[September]] [[1983]], the "W" mint mark was introduced on a gold [[United States 10 dollar coin|$10 coin]] commemorating the {{wp|en|1984 Summer Olympics}}, even though the mint was still an unofficial U.S. Mint at the time. This coin became the first [[legal tender]] gold coin issued since [[1933]]. In [[1986]], [[American Gold Eagle]] coins were produced solely at West Point, again without a mint mark. On [[March 31]], [[1988]], the West Point Bullion Depository was granted mint status.

In [[1996]], to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the [[Roosevelt dime]], the West Point Mint produced 1.457 million dimes bearing the "W" mint mark, which were minted solely for collectors. 

===Present===
[[File:2009_Platinum_eagle_obv.jpg|thumb|160px|A U.S. Platinum Eagle.]]
Today, all gold, silver, and [[platinum]] [[American Eagle]] coins are produced at the West Point Mint, along with all [[gold]] commemorative coins, and some silver commemoratives. All coins struck at the facility bear the "W" mint mark. Beginning in [[2006]], the West Point Mint also began producing all the [[American Buffalo]] gold bullion coins. 

The West Point Mint still acts as a gold bullion depository, and silver is kept in quantities to meet the minting demands. Due to the presence of so much gold on the site, security is high. Tours of the building are not given, and its address is withheld by the {{wp|en|National Park Service}} in its National Register listings. 

In 2002, the United States Military Academy was honored for its 200th anniversary, and a commemorative [[United States dollar coin|silver dollar]] was issued and unveiled on [[March 16]] of that year. This coin was only produced at the West Point Mint.

==Building==
[[File:West_Point_old.jpg|thumb|left|West Point before 2005.]]
The West Point Mint building is a 52 by 78 meter (170 by 256 feet) {{wp|en|reinforced concrete}} structure with a flat roof. Its walls are featureless except for recessed-arches at the entryways. At the corners of the facility are four {{wp|en|Turret|turrets}}, which are used for the building's security. It was built on a four-acre parcel of land near the United States Military Academy, with parking lots on both sides. Inside the building are [[coin press]]es and bullion compartments. 

In [[2005]], the mint building was remodeled to include a second story.

==References==
*{{Wikipedia-en}}
*[http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/mint_facilities/?action=WP_facilities West Point Mint Facility &ndash; The United States Mint]
*[http://www.usmint.gov/kids/coinnews/mintfacilities/swf/ The United States Mint at West Point &ndash; H.I.P. Pocket Change]

{{US Mint}}
[[Category:Gold]]
[[Category:Mints]]
[[Category:Silver]]
[[Category:United States dollar]]
[[Category:United States Mint]]