Through the Coinage Act of 1792, the US Mint was created by Congress. Its first building was located in Philadelphia, within the US Department of State, with the scientist David Rittenhouse as its first director. When the demand for coins increased, the facilities for US Mint also expanded. Now, there is several US Mint facilities located in different states in the US. Even though each has different activities, the main goal of the agency is to produce and distribute US Mint coins.

US Mint coins are produced for daily circulation, so they can be used for trade and commerce. These coins include the Lincoln penny, Jefferson nickel, Roosevelt dime, 50 State quarters, Kennedy half-dollar, and the Golden dollar. All of these coins are circulated in the US, and every year more than a billion of each is produced to cater to peoples demand for US Mint coins.

These US Mint coins have different coin specifications. Some are made with copper-plated zinc, while others are made from cupro-nickel and manganese-brass. These also have variations in weight, diameter, thickness and edge. But even though these coins have different specifications, all have an approximate life span of 30 years.

There are also coins that are considered no longer fit for circulation, and are often referred to as uncurrent coins and mutilated coins. Uncurrent coins are machine countable, while the mutilated are not. Uncurrent coins are redeemed by the Federal Banks and forwarded to the US Mint for disposition, while mutilated coins are redeemed through the US Mint facility in Philadelphia. However, both are melted and are used to manufacture coinage strips.