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FOIA release note: photograph taken outside the 

Search House of the U.S. Bullion Depository at 

Fort Knox
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FOIA release note: photograph taken in the 

parking lot of the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort 

Knox

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FOIA release note: photograph taken on the steps 

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FOIA release note: photograph taken 

inside the U.S. Bullion Depository at 

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FOIA release note: photograph taken inside the 

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FOIA release note: photograph taken inside 

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FOIA release note: photograph taken 

on the steps of the U.S. Bullion 

Depository at Fort Knox
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FOIA release note: photograph taken 

on the steps of the U.S. Bullion 

Depository at Fort Knox
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FOIA release note: photograph taken 

on the steps of the U.S. Bullion 

Depository at Fort Knox

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FOIA release note: photograph taken 

on the steps of the U.S. Bullion 

Depository at Fort Knox
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FOIA release note: photographs taken 

on the steps of the U.S. Bullion 

Depository at Fort Knox

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taken outside the U.S. Bullion 

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FOIA release note: photographs taken outside 

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Run of show 

VIP visit to United States Bullion Depository 

Monday, August 21st

For the purposes of this document, “VIPs” refers to the following seven (7) individuals: 

 Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin

 Senator Mitch McConnell

 Representative Brett Guthrie

 Governor Matt Bevin

 Assistant Secretary for Management Kody Kinsley

 Treasurer Jovita Carranza

ASM Kinsley and Treasurer Carranza will arrive at the United States Bullion Depository (USBD) during the 

morning of August 21. The motorcade for the other VIPs is expected to arrive at the USBD at approximately 

2:00 pm. 

1:30 pm United States Mint (Mint) staff will be posted at the entry gate to Fort Knox, so as to ensure 

the VIP motorcade proceeds directly to the USBD. 

2:00 pm Upon arrival at the USBD, the VIPs will be greeted by Mint personnel. All vehicles in the VIP 

motorcade will have assigned parking spaces in the USBD parking lot. 

In the event members of media arrive to cover the visit, the Mint will have a media area 

(located in a maintenance facility located adjacent to the parking area).

2:05 pm All VIPs and members of their entourage will proceed through general security screening 

2:20 pm VIPs and their staff members who they choose to accompany them into the USBD will walk 

. Upon entry to the USBD, Mint staff will lead the 

VIPs and their staff members to the roof of the facility to view the solar eclipse. Fort Knox is 

approximately 142 miles north of the “Path of Totality.” The solar eclipse is projected to reach 

its maximum viewing potential at 2:30 pm. The Mint has procured viewing glasses for VIPs and 

their staff to view the eclipse safely. 

2:40 pm Following the eclipse viewing, VIPs will proceed to the USBD’s 2nd floor conference room. 

Once in the room, they will receive a brief (7-8 minutes) presentation about the USBD, its 

history, and the restrictions on sharing any information related to the facility’s security. The 

presentation will be made by Dave Motl, the Mint’s Acting Deputy Director and senior career 

official. During this presentation, Mint & IG staff who are required to be present in the vault 

will be processed through vault security. During the presentation, any aides to VIPs and 

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Treasury staff members who are not going inside the vault will be brought to the 2nd floor 

kitchenette. At the conclusion of the presentation, the VIPs will be escorted to the office of 

USBD Field Chief Lee Booth to begin processing for access to the USBD vault. At this time, the 

aides to VIPs and Treasury staff who are not going inside the vault will be escorted to the 

USBD’s 2nd floor conference room where light refreshments will be available. 

2:50 pm Each VIP will go through security processing individually. 

In compliance with the U.S. Mint Directive 8H-1 Chapter 8 Finances – Custodial Deep Storage 

Asset, members of the Department’s Office of Inspector General (IG), as well as designated 

representatives of the Director of the Mint must be present when any compartment 

containing gold is opened. To avoid any unnecessary delays, those IG and Mint staff will be 

processed through the vault security prior to the arrival of the VIPs. The only three staff who 

will go through security in addition to the VIPs will be: Dave Motl – Acting Deputy Director 

(and senior career official) of the Mint; Dennis O’Connor – Chief of Mint Police; and, Field Chief 

Lee Booth – senior official at the USBD. 

3:25 pm Once all the VIPs have cleared vault security, they will have the opportunity to inspect and 

handle an actual bar of “working” gold from the Mint facility at West Point. (Reminder –

unlike the “working” gold at West Point, the gold stored at the USBD is not used for making 

coins.) 

3:40 pm Upon entering the vault, the compartment directly in front of the entrance will be open for 

inspection. This compartment is completely empty – so as to provide the VIPs a more 

complete understanding of the size of each compartment. 

The VIPs will be escorted (in a single group) to the lower-level to the vault where one of the 

compartments will be open for inspection. 

. VIPs will be invited into the 

compartment to inspect and handle the high-value assets stored within: 

 Ten (10) “1933 Double Eagle” gold coins recently returned to the custody of the Mint

 1974 aluminum penny

 Sacagawea $1 coins which were official cargo on a NASA Space Shuttle mission.

Talking points describing the significance of these high-value assets are attached. 

3:50 pm 

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Each VIP will be permitted to enter the compartment to view the deep storage gold stored 

within. The two staff members from the IG and Mint will provide gloves to each VIP so they 

may handle one of the bars of gold. A photographer from the Mint will be present to take 

photos each VIP standing inside the compartment holding a bar of gold with 25,000+ more 

bars of gold directly behind them. 

To comply with security and audit requirements, no bars of gold may be removed from the 

compartment. However, each VIP will be given ample opportunity to see, inspect, and handle 

the gold while inside the compartment. 

Once the VIP group has finished their inspection of the gold inside the compartment, they and 

the two staff members from IG and Mint will exit the compartment and the door will be 

closed. VIPs will be offered the opportunity to sign the “witness document” which will 

accompany the new seal affixed to the closed compartment as a testament of their visit. 

While the IG and Mint staff complete each of the steps required to re-seal of the 

compartment, the VIPs will be escorted outside the vault to the holding area where they 

received the presentation from Mint Acting Deputy Director Motl. The VIPs will once again 

have the opportunity to view and handle the bar of “working” gold from West Point.

4:15 pm VIPs will begin the exit screening process. 

While the VIPs go through the exit screening process, Mint staff will accompany all staff 

members who had been waiting in the USBD conference room back to the main lobby area 

where they can meet up with the VIPs and exit the USBD. 

4:30 pm Upon exiting the USBD, all VIPs and their staff members will walk 

All visitors (VIPs and staff) will go through the general screening process a 

final time, after which they will exit into the parking lot. 

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Tentative Schedule for Secretary Mnuchin’s Trip to Louisville, Kentucky - Ft. Knox, Kentucky 

As of the morning of 8/18/2017 

Monday August 21, 2017 

Weather

Louisville, Kentucky: High 91/Low 75, 40% Chance of Rain and Scattered Thunderstorms 

8:25am THE SECRETARY departs Residence en route Joint Base Andrews (JBA) 

Drive Time: 20 Minutes 

8:45am THE SECRETARY arrives Joint Base Andrews (JBA) and proceeds to MilAir 

9:05am Wheels Up Joint Base Andrews (JBA) en route Fort Knox – Godman Airfield, 

Kentucky 

(Flight Time: 1 Hours, 25 Minutes) 

(Time Change: None) 

(Food Service: Snacks) 

10:30am THE SECRETARY arrives Fort Knox – Godman Airfield, Kentucky and 

proceeds to vehicles 

10:45am THE SECRETARY boards vehicles and departs en route The Olmsted 

Drive Time: 45 minutes 

11:30am THE SECRETARY arrives The Olmsted and proceeds to Hold Room 

11:30am-1:00pm EVENT: GREATER LOUISVILLE, INC. CAPITOL 

CONNECTION LUNCHEON 

LOCATION: The Olmsted 

3701 Frankfort Avenue 

Louisville, Kentucky 40207 

ATTENDEES: THE SECRETARY

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 

Military Air:

THE SECRETARY

Louise Linton

Eli Miller, Chief of Staff

Tony Sayegh, Assistant Secretary, Public Affairs

Joey Smith, Director of Operations

, Personal Aide to the Secretary

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VENUE: Indoor 

ATTIRE: Business 

FORMAT: Luncheon with remarks and Q/A 

PRESS: Open 

1:00pm THE SECRETARY proceeds to vehicles 

1:05pm THE SECRETARY boards vehicles and departs en route Ft. Knox 

Drive Time: 45 minutes 

1:50pm THE SECRETARY arrives at Ft. Knox 

Note: THE SECRETARY is greeted by Mint personnel. 

1:55pm General security screening for all visitors

Note: 

(10 total visitors) 

2:15pm THE SECRETARY and delegation proceed to rooftop of Fort Knox 

2:20pm THE SECRETARY and delegation view the solar eclipse 

2:40pm THE SECRETARY and delegation proceed to the Field Chief’s office to be 

briefed on Fort Knox 

2:45pm-3:00pm EVENT: BRIEFING BY MINT STAFF 

LOCATION: Field Chief’s Office 

ATTENDEES: THE SECRETARY

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 

Governor Matt Bevin 

Congressman Brett Guthrie 

Acting Deputy Director of the Mint David Motl 

VENUE: Indoor 

ATTIRE: Business 

FORMAT: Briefing 

PRESS: Closed 

 

3:00pm THE SECRETARY and delegation proceed through security processing for 

access to vault 

 

3:40pm-4:15pm EVENT: TOUR GOLD RESERVE

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LOCATION: United States Bullion Depository 

ATTENDEES: THE SECRETARY 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 

Governor Matt Bevin 

Congressman Brett Guthrie 

Acting Deputy Director of the Mint David Motl 

Treasurer Jovita Carranza 

Assistant Secretary of Management Kody 

 Kinsley 

5 IG and Mint Personnel 

 VENUE: Indoor 

ATTIRE: Business 

FORMAT: Tour 

PRESS: Closed 

4:15pm 

4:25pm 

 

4:30pm THE SECRETARY boards vehicles and departs to Fort Knox - Godman 

Airfield 

Drive Time: 5 minutes 

4:35pm THE SECRETARY arrives Fort Knox - Godman Airfield en route Joint Base 

Andrews (JBA) 

4:45pm Wheels Up Fort Knox - Godman Airfield en route Joint Base Andrews (JBA) 

Military Air:

THE SECRETARY

Louise Linton

Jovita Carranza, Treasurer

Eli Miller, Chief of Staff

Tony Sayegh, Assistant Secretary, Public Affairs

Joey Smith, Director of Operations

, Personal Aide to the Secretary

Kody Kinsley, Assistant Secretary of Management

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(Flight Time: 1 Hours, 15 Minutes) 

(Time Change: None) 

(Food Service: Snacks) 

6:00pm THE SECRETARY arrives Joint Base Andrews (JBA) and proceeds to vehicles 

6:15pm THE SECRETARY departs Joint Base Andrews en route Residence 

Drive Time: 20 Minutes 

6:35pm THE SECRETARY arrives to his Residence

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SENSITIVE 

EVENT MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARY MNUCHIN 

Event: United States Bullion Depository Visit with Congressional Delegation

Date/Loc: Monday, August 21, 2017; Fort Knox, Kentucky 

Press: Official Mint Photographer 

From: Kody H. Kinsley, Assistant Secretary for Management 

 Jovita Caranza, Treasurer 

OVERVIEW 

This memorandum outlines logistics for a Congressional delegation visit to the United States 

Bullion Depository (USBD) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The USBD is operated by the U.S. Mint 

and stores bullion reserves. It currently holds 147.3 million ounces of gold that as of August 16 

is worth approximately $190.4 billion. 

Access to the USBD is limited, as the facility exists solely for the storage of gold. 

. 

The Mint has arranged for its staff photographer to take photographs inside a compartment with 

gold. If additional photograph opportunities are desired, the Mint recommends they be at the 

Main Entrance, in the Field Chief’s Office, 

. To prevent compromise of security, photographs will be 

subject to review by the U.S. Mint Police. 

SCENARIO 

You will travel from Louisville to the USBD via automobile. Transit time is approximately 45 

minutes. Once at the USBD, you will go through several security screenings. 





 Mr. David Motl, Senior Career Agency Official at the 

Mint, will provide a brief overview of the history of the facility and the Mint’s role in protecting 

the USBD portion of the U.S. National Strategic Gold Reserve. This introduction will take 

approximately 15 minutes.

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After the short overview, you will enter the vault. You will first be shown an empty 

compartment, which will provide you with perspective as to the size of each compartment. 

 Visitors will be invited into the compartment to inspect: 

 “1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle” gold coins 

 1974 aluminum penny 

 Sacagawea $1 coins, which were official cargo on a NASA Space Shuttle mission 

Upon completion of the vault tour, each participant will process back through security, 

The 

delegation will then depart by vehicles to the Godman Army air field. Travel time is 

approximately 3-4 minutes.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

2:00 p.m. Arrive at USBD/Greeting by Mint personnel 

2:05 p.m. General security screening for all visitors 

2:25 p.m. Proceed to rooftop, view eclipse 

2:40 p.m. Proceed to adjacent conference room to begin briefing 

2:45 p.m. Briefing by Mint staff 

3:00 p.m. Security processing for access to vault 

3:20 p.m. Tour gold reserve 

3:55 p.m. Exit vault 

 

4:10 p.m. Depart USBD 

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PARTICIPANTS 

You will visit and tour with a delegation that includes: 

 Senator Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, Kentucky 

 Senator Rand Paul, Kentucky 

 Representative S. Brett Guthrie, Kentucky, Second Congressional District 

 Governor Matt Bevin, Kentucky 

 Treasury staff. 

The tour of the vault will be limited to you, the Treasurer, the Chief of Staff, the Assistant 

Secretary for Management, Senator McConnell, Representative Guthrie, Governor Bevin, Acting 

Director David Motl, Mint’s Chief of Police, and Representatives from the Office of the 

Inspector General. 

PERSONAL PROFILES 

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 

 Senator Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader represents Kentucky in the U.S. 

Senate and serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

 Priorities include tax reform and the debt ceiling. 

 Senator McConnell is married to Secretary Elaine Chao, U.S. Secretary of 

Transportation.



Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) 

 Senator Paul considers himself one of the nation’s leading advocates for 

liberty and champion of fiscal responsibility. 

 Senator Paul is married to Kelley Ashby Paul of Russellville, Kentucky. 

 You called Senator Paul in July to invite him to Fort Knox. 

Representative S. Brett Guthrie (R-KY, 2nd) 

 Representative Guthrie's district is home to Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace. 

 Graduated in 1987 from West Point with a degree in economics and later 

earned a Master's Degree from Yale University in Public and Private 

Management.

 Following his military service, Representative Guthrie joined Trace Die 

Cast, the manufacturing business started by his father in Bowling Green. 

 Representative Guthrie is married to the former Beth Clemmons; they have three children, 

Caroline, Robby and Elizabeth. 

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Governor Matt Bevin (R-KY) 

 Matt Bevin was elected the 62nd Governor of the Commonwealth of 

Kentucky in 2015. 

 Governor Bevin graduated from Washington and Lee University on an 

ROTC scholarship and later served in the U.S. Army achieving the rank 

of Captain. 

 He is married to Glenna Bevin, and has nine children. 

ATTACHMENTS 

1. Treasury Public Affairs Q and A and Fact Sheet 

2. Senator Paul Letter to Secretary Mnuchin on Observe Deposits Held in U.S. Bullion 

Depository 

3. Senator Paul Letter to Acting Director Motl on Observe Deposits Held in U.S. Bullion 

Depository 

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Event Memorandum Clearance Sheet 

Event: U.S. Mint Bullion Depository Visit with Congressional Delegation 

Drafted: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Management –

Approved: Kody Kinsley, Assistant Secretary for Management (08/16/17) 

Cleared: Exec Sec – Ryan Brady (8/17/17) 

General Counsel – Michael Briskin (8/16/17) 

Legislative Affairs – Matt Kellogg (8/16/17) 

Operations – Joey Smith (8/16/17) 

U.S. Mint – David A. Motl (08/16/17) 

Office of the Treasurer – Jovita Carranza (8/16/17) 

ASM – (08/15/17) 

Scheduling and Advance – (8/16/17) 

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ATTACHMENT 1: Public Affairs Questions/Answers and Fact Sheet 

The official name of the U.S. Mint facility referred to as “Fort Knox” is the United States 

Bullion Depository (USBD). The reference to Fort Knox originates from its proximity to the 

Fort Knox military installation. 

1. What is the role and history of the U.S. Mint? 

The U.S. Mint is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for 

producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also 

produces bullion of gold, silver and platinum for investors, Congressional Gold Medals, and 

coins and medals for collectors (numismatists). Mint programs are self-sustaining and operate at 

no cost to the taxpayer. 

The history of the U.S. Mint dates back to 1792 when Congress passed the Coinage Act, which 

created the Mint and authorized the construction of a Mint Building in Philadelphia (then the 

Nation’s capital). The Mint became part of the Treasury Department in February 1873. 

2. What is the history of Fort Knox? 

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102, which outlawed private 

ownership of gold coins, bullion, and gold certificates by American citizens. The rationale was 

the hoarding of gold was stalling economic growth making the Great Depression worse. 

Fort Knox Bullion Depository was created through the Deficiency Act on June 22, 1936, signed 

by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The building was completed in December 1936 at a cost of 

$560,000. The land was transferred to Treasury from the Army. 

The Depository needed 16,000 feet of granite, 4,200 cubic yards of concrete and 750 tons of 

reinforced steel and 670 tons of structural steel. 

Fort Knox is a 109,000 acre U.S. Army post. Besides housing the U.S. Bullion Depository 

(USBD), it is also home to the General George S. Patton Museum. 

3. When and who was the last Treasury Secretary to visit Fort Knox? What was the 

purpose of that trip? 

Fort Knox had been previously visited by Secretary Henry Morgenthau on January 19, 1939, and 

Secretary John Snyder on June 17, 1948. The visits were conducted for a business needs, as 

Treasury has overall responsibility for the Depository. 

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4. What is the purpose of the trip by Secretary Mnuchin? 

The Secretary has the overall responsibility for the Depository. He also attests to the form and 

content of the financial statements of the Department—the custodial gold holding is a significant 

part of that attestation. The Secretary has visited IRS Headquarters and Bureau of Fiscal 

Service, both in Washington, DC. Secretary Mnuchin has plans to visit other Treasury facilities 

around the country and meet with Treasury personnel in the coming months. 

5. Besides being a depository for gold and other precious items, what is Fort Knox used 

for (in a Treasury role, if any)? 

The Bullion Depository at Fort Knox was constructed solely as a secured storage facility. By the 

way of background, the Act of August 13, 1935, Public Law 74-267, 49 Stat. 613 authorized the 

Secretary of War to transfer some land from the Fort Knox Military Reservation to the Secretary 

of the Treasury for the purpose of constructing the United States Bullion Depository (USBD). 

6. What is the present value of the gold held at Fort Knox? 

Deep Storage Gold Reserves as of September 30, 2016 

with Market Value as of August 16, 2017 

Fine Troy Ounces Statutory Value Market Value

Fort Knox 147,341,858.382 6,221,097,413 190,459,979,819

Denver 43,853,707.279 1,851,599,999 56,687,056,177

West Point 54,067,331.379 2,282,841,679 69,889,595,234

Total 245,262,897.04 $10,355,539,091 317,036,631,230

* $1,292.64 per FTO 

7. How much of the U.S. gold is held at Fort Knox vs. held in other facilities, like the 

Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY)? 

FRBNY Gold Reserves as of September 30, 2016 

with Market Value as of August 16, 2017 

Fine Troy Ounces Statutory Value Market Value

Gold Bars 13,378,981.032 $564,890,013 $17,294,206,041

Gold Coins 73,829.500 $ 3,117,244 $95,434,965

Total 13,452,810.532 $568,007,257 $17,791,341,929

 * $1,292.64 per FTO 

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8. Is the gold ever transferred to other Mint facilities or the Federal Reserve from Fort 

Knox? 

No, gold is not transferred to other Mint facilities or the Federal Reserve from Fort Knox. 

9. Besides gold, what other items are stored there? 

In addition to the gold, the USBD currently secures 1933 Double Eagle Gold Coins, a 1974-D 

aluminum penny, and twenty gold (22-karat) Sacagawea dollar coins that were flown on the 

Space Shuttle. In the past, other items were held at Fort Knox. 

10. How many employees work at the facility? 

For security purposes we do not provide that information to the public. 

11. Why was Fort Knox chosen to be the site? 

The Depository was constructed with the possibility of war looming. Fort Knox provided a 

location far from either coast, adjacent to a military installation for added security and close to a 

rail head for transportation. 

12. When was the last gold audit? 

Between 1971 and 2008, all Treasury owned gold stored at the United States Mint (Fort Knox, 

Denver and West Point) was audited and placed under Official Joint Seal. In 2012, the Treasuryowned gold stored at the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) was audited/inventoried by the 

Department of the Treasury’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) and placed under Joint Seal. 

In addition, on an annual basis, the TOIG conducts audits of United States Mint Custodial Gold 

Schedules at all Mint locations, and since 2012, Treasury Gold Schedules at the FRB. The 

annual audit includes an inspection of all gold compartments and Joint Seals to verify the 

compartments are locked, and the seals are in-tact and have not been tampered with. 

13. When was the last shipment of gold sent to Fort Knox, and do shipments still take 

place? 

The first shipment to Fort Knox was made from January to June 1937 from the Philadelphia Mint 

and the New York Assay Office (public gold refinery). The last gold shipment was delivered to 

the USBD in 1944. Shipments of gold no longer take place. 

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Additional Fort Knox Facts and History

 Due to World War II, the first Magna Carta was stored at the Depository from 1939 to 1947.

 The crown, sword, scepter, orb, and cape of St. Stephen, King of Hungary (975-1038) were 

given to the U.S. Army by the Hungarian Crown for safe keeping from the Soviet Union. 

The items were stored at the Depository at the end of World War II. The Carter 

Administration returned the items to the government of Hungary in 1978. 

 To protect them from any possible danger during World War II, the Declaration of 

Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights were secretly stored in protective 

vaults. Only when Allied victory was imminent in 1944 were the historic documents 

returned to Washington, D.C.

 During the Cold War, a cache of opium and morphine was stored at Fort Knox for 

emergency uses. In 1993, the opium was turned into morphine sulfate. The opium and 

morphine is no longer stored at the Depository.

 In 1974, there was circulated a theory that the gold in the Depository had been secretly 

removed by elites, and that the vaults were empty. 

 In September 1974, 63rd Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon invited a group of 

reporters and a Congressional delegation to visit Fort Knox. The delegation was allowed 

inside in order to refute the theory, which had gained traction thanks to coverage in tabloid 

newspapers and on the radio. Other than this 1974 event, no member of the public has been 

allowed inside. 

Other Facts 

 The highest gold holdings this century was 649.6 million ounces (December 31, 1941). 

 Each gold bar weigh approximately 27.5 lbs. 

 The gold is only removed in small quantities to test the purity of the gold during regular 

audits. 

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