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Creation Date
11-27-2010
Building Name
Templeton Reid Mint
Description
Templeton Reid Mint Marker, Gainesville GA
This marker is located in the Time Square, in Gainesville, GA.
The text reads as : First Private Mint Templeton Reid Mint 1830-1831
"Two hundred yards west, on the north side of Washington Street is the site of the first private mint in the United States to manufacture gold coins in dollar values. During the Georgia gold rush, trade suffered due to a shortage of sound money. There were few coins in circulation and most business was by barter. Templeton Reid (ca. 1787-1851), Milledgeville silversmith and expert machinist, saw an answer to the problem. He decided to buy raw gold, refine it and stamp coins of proven value, acceptable in any transaction. In 1830 he came to Gainesville, Georgia and opened an assay office. With machines and dies of his design and make he began to strike coins of $2.50, $5.00, and $10.00 denominations. Although questioned by many, this was legal under the U.S. Constitution. The business was not profitable and closed in 1831. The Reid gold coins minted in Gainesville are extremely rare and are eagerly sought by collectors."
Hall County Historical Society 1979
Latitude, Longitude
34.29938333, -83.82706667
Rights Statement
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Keywords
Taylor, George Lansing, Jr.; Lance Taylor; Photographers -- Florida -- Jacksonville; Photograph collections -- Florida -- Jacksonville; Templeton Reid Mint Marker; Templeton Reid Mint; Private mint; Gold coins; Templeton Reid; Hall County (Ga.); Historical marker --- Georgia --- Gainesville.; Images