Pictured is the Carson City, Nevada Mint & Mint Press

Shown is the minting process from start to finish using the US governments #1 mint press built in 1869 and shipped in 1870 to the Carson City, Nevada Mint.

Built in 1869 by Morgan & Orr, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Weight: 12,000 pounds 
Production capability: 1869 - 1,500 coins per hour 
Today: one medal takes 10 seconds to strike
Striking pressure: 200 tons 

US Government Mint @ Carson City, Nevada

#1 Mint Press in action

Morgan Dollars in process of being pressed

Time to change dies

The press operator will remove die base

Brass funnel helped load large quantity of planchets

Operator removing die mounts

Reverse die base

Closeup image of reverse die

Collar to contain the coin during pressing and give edge ribs

Obverse die

Reverse die holder

Disassemble die mount

Die press parts

Reassembly begins

Setting up obverse die

Operator adjusting press

Removing die rack

Removing die that creates blank planchets for making coins

Setting up die press mount

Inspecting old 1889 CC die for pressing new coins

Inserting reverse die into mount

Setting reverse die depth

Setting press pressure

You can see the used, very rare planchet web frame in the box

Making more coins

Die lubricant

Quality control inspection

Final product