The Denver Mint is one of only two U.S. Mint facilities that offer public tours, and the tour is free. It runs about an hour, Monday through Thursday (not federal holidays), with start times of 7:15, 8:30 and 9:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:45 and 2 p.m. Every visitor must be 7 or older.
The catch is planning. Tickets are released online at 1 a.m. Denver time, up to 30 days in advance, with a maximum of five per request, and there are no phone, email or walk-up tickets. School and civic groups of 10 to 50 submit a group request at least 45 days ahead (no group tours between Memorial Day and Labor Day). Coins may not be in production on a given day, and tours can be canceled without notice.
Lesson hooks
- Civics and economics: how currency is made and why the Mint exists.
- How it’s made: blanking, striking and inspection.
- Same trip: the State Capitol’s free tours are a short walk away.
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