2006 San Francisco Old Mint Silver Dollar Commemorative Coins

The 2006 San Francisco Old Mint Silver Dollar was the second silver commemorative coin issued by the United States Mint in 2006. Struck in both proof and uncirculated qualities, the commemorate coins celebrate the contributions of the San Francisco Old Mint, especially during and after the tragedies of the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906.

2006-S Proof San Francisco Old Mint Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin

President Millard Fillmore signed an Act of Congress in 1852 creating the San Francisco Mint branch in order to more effectively convert the gold of the California Gold Rush occurring at the time into coinage. To that end, architect A.B. Mullett designed a building for the Mint that would eventually be one of the few to survive the horrific earthquake and fire of 1906. Its solid construction allowed the "Granite Lady," as it came to be known, to re-open almost immediately following the disaster where it served as the depository for disaster relief funds for the city of San Francisco.

San Francisco Old Mint Silver Dollar Information

Authorized by the San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 109-230), which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on June 15, 2006, the silver dollar was created from the typical composition for modern commemorative coins of 90% silver. The US Mint was authorized to strike up to 500,000 of the coins in either proof or uncirculated condition.

Shown on the obverse of the coins is a rendition of the Old Mint building as prepared for the San Francisco Mint Medal by Sherl J. Winter. Also included are the inscriptions OLD MINT, THE GRANITE LADY, INSTRUMENTAL IN SAN FRANCISCO’S RECOVERY, LIBERTY, E PLURIBUS UNUM and 1906 – 2006.

2006-S Uncirculated San Francisco Old Mint Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin

The reverse shows an Eagle design that was first used on the reverse of the 1904 Morgan Silver Dollar reverse. It also shows the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR, IN GOD WE TRUST and the San Francisco Mintmark of "S."

Surcharges of $10 per silver dollar sold was collected by the US Mint and forwarded to the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society to help rehabilitate the Historic Old Mint in San Francisco as a city museum and an American coin and gold rush museum.

Along with these silver dollars, the US Mint also produced up to 250,000 $5 Gold San Francisco Old Mint Coins.

2006 Silver Dollar Coin Specifications