\[\"The Department of the TREASURY NEWS\" banner, with \"The Department
of the Treasury 1789\" seal on right and \"BUREAU OF THE MINT; WASH.,
D.C. 20220 - W04-5011\" on 2nd line.\]

March 23, 1972

[IMMEDIATE RELEASE]{.underline}

[SAN FRANCISCO MINT RETURNS HOME]{.underline}

The President announced today the transfer of the old San Francisco Mint
from the General Services Administration to the Department of the
Treasury for restoration by the Bureau of the Mint for use by the
Federal government and the public.

The structure dedicated in 1874 and a survivor of the San Francisco
earthquake has been vacant since 1968.

"I have never been so thrilled and I feel a tremendous sense of
responsibility and satisfaction that we have finally come home again to
the old Mint," Mrs. Mary Brooks, Director of the Mint, said in response
to the Presidential announcement.

"The fact that our services have grown so phenomenally makes the
acquisition of this building important to us from an operational
standpoint. It is also an opportunity to contribute to the history of
this country and make a substantial contribution to our Western heritage
by rehabilitating this national landmark."

The old Mint, designed by Alfred Bult Mullet, is a durable and massive
sandstone and granite example of the era of federal buildings
architecture in the West.

The structure survived the disastrous San Francisco earthquake and fire
of 1906. Left standing virtually alone and intact amidst the rubble and
devastation of the surrounding area, it was the only financial
institution in the city able to transact the pecuniary business vital to
the survival of San Francisco.

The old Mint has not been used as a coinage plant since it was
deactivated in 1937 and the operations moved to the present quarters in
San Francisco. Until the late 1960's several government agencies have
used the building for office space. It has been vacant since 1968.

The people of San Francisco and the State of California are greatly
interested in preserving this national monument to their past and the
boom days of the gold rush that made necessary the building of an assay
and coinage facility in California by the national government.

Numerous groups have proposed the building be used as a museum or an
educational institution. Because of its unique place in the history of
our country's, as well as California's, growth and the urgent need for
additional space for Mint operations already in progress in San
Francisco, it was determined that the Bureau of the Mint return some of
its excess functions to its old home---functions which are presently
housed in an annex building due to lack of space at the new Mint.

The Mint's Numismatic Service Division and data processing will be
transferred from the annex building to the old Mint and the Bureau of
the Mint will also develop a significant educational and historical
museum to be open to the public.

The saving of this national landmark building for useful service is part
of the President's program to preserve our national treasures for future
generations.

The old San Francisco Mint is an exceptional example of our rich
architectural heritage and of the cultural contributions of past
generations to enhance our surroundings and our way of life.

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