Kilbourne would not comment on CoinWorld's report that the search revealed valuable coins with errors in employee lockers and toolboxes, and uncovered the possible theft of several rolls of Sacagawea dollars from a vault. He said the search was part of an ongoing review and no information would be released until the investigation is complete. Union representatives from the Denver Mint say workers may not be to blame. Chris Kemm, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 685, said mechanical glitches could have played a role. The media is making it sound like it's criminal intent.
Coins leave the mint in several ways.
Error coins, such as the overstruck Sacagawea dollar reportedly found last month, are taken with scrap to a facility near St. Louis to be melted down. Newly minted coins are taken to Federal Reserve banks to be released into circulation. Security at the mint, which has its own police force, is tight. All mint employees must pass through a metal detector capable of sensing metal inside the body. In addition, guards search employees' cars, opening the hood and inspecting the undercarriage.