In something called the Epoch Times, their Today in History for July 27 was “1844: A fire destroys the U.S. Mint in Charlotte, North Carolina. There was a U.S. mint in Charlotte, NC?
Wikipedia confirms that the Charlotte Mint was the first United States branch mint that specialized in gold coinage.” On March 3, 1835, the United States Congress approved legislation to establish several branch mints; the Mint Act of 1835 stated, “…one branch [to be established] at the town of Charlotte, in Mecklenburg County, in the state of North Carolina, for the coinage of gold only…And for the purpose of purchasing sites, erecting suitable buildings, and completing the necessary combinations of machinery…for the branch at Charlotte, fifty thousand dollars”
The Charlotte Mint operated after the 1844 hiatus on a more limited basis. But it suffered a more serious blow when “the discovery of massive gold deposits in California sent the local miners packing. They figured they could get rich quicker over there. A lot of the ‘49ers were formerly North Carolina miners!”
Niece Alex clued me in. North Carolina was technically the first gold rush (at least, according to her 8th grade social studies teacher) before California and was the leading gold producer.
Yup. Following the first documented discovery of gold in the United States, the country’s first gold mine was established in North Carolina at the Reed Gold Mine. Other gold was dug from up to 600 mines in Mecklenburg County, with the primary city source being the Rudisill Gold Mine near downtown.
Alex noted, “The Reed Family (we live near Reedy Creek) used a 17-pound nugget as a doorstop and eventually sold it for about three dollars!”
Segue
She noted, “It’s also my favorite Charlotte lore that allegedly there are gold stores still hidden underneath Uptown Charlotte (there’s gold in them thar foothills!”) The rebuilt version is now her favorite art museum.
“Established in 1936, The Mint Museum is a leading, innovative cultural institution and museum of international art and design.
“With two locations — Mint Museum Randolph in the heart of Eastover and Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts —the Mint boasts one of the largest collections in the Southeast and is committed to engaging and inspiring members of the global community.