West Point Mint

From Depository to US Mint Production Facility

The West Point branch of the US Mint is located near the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. The minting facility produces the entire series of American Eagle uncirculated and proof coins in gold, silver, and platinum. The Gold Eagle and the Platinum Eagles are issued in 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, and 1/10 oz denominations, while the silver bullion American Eagles are only available in a 1 oz denomination.

Like Fort Knox, West Point was originally a storage facility for precious metals, specifically silver bullion. In fact, it opened as the West Point Bullion Depository when it was built in 1937, and it even became known as “The Fort Knox of Silver.” While it was originally opened as a bullion Depository, the US Government eventually deemed it an official branch of the US Mint on March 31, 1988.

From 1973 to 1986, the US Mint used the facilities at West Point for penny production. In 1980, the Depository began minting gold medallions. Soon afterwards, 20 billion dollars worth of gold was stored in the Depository, bringing it in second to Fort Knox in the amount of stored pure gold reserves.

West Point still acts as a gold bullion depository, but keeps silver in storage according to demand. While it stores America’s precious metals, it also manufactures, packages and ships gold and silver commemorative coins, as well as proof and uncirculated American Eagle bullion coins in gold, silver, and platinum. West Point has been striking Platinum Eagles since the issue of the coins’ first release in 1997.

Today, it is a primary producer of gold coins, including the American Buffalo gold bullion coin, which was first issued in 2006.

Special Proof Minting and Security

In September, 1983, the mint used the signature “W” mark for the first time on s commemorative gold coin celebrating the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Now, all commemorative coins issued at West Point are struck with the "W" mint mark.