Happy Birthday U.S. Mint!

On April 2, 1792, The Coinage Act was passed by Congress creating the U.S. Mint. Today marks the 216th Anniversary of this date.

The U.S. Mint is currently featuring a Happy Birthday message on its home page plus a link to download a copy of the legislation.

Some Birthday Facts from the Historian's Corner section of their website:

• The legislation authorized the Mint to make gold coins (Eagles, Half Eagles, and Quarter Eagles), silver coins (Dollars, Half Dollars, Quarter Dollars, Dimes, and Half Dimes), and copper (Cents and Half Cents)
• The President was authorized to construct buildings in Philadelphia. The Mint would be the first federal building constructed under the Constitution.
• Annual salaries were set at $2,000 for the Mint's Director, $1,500 for the assayer and chief coiner, $1,200 for the engraver and treasurer, and $500 for clerks.
• The Mint's first Director was David Rittenhouse. He was appointed by George Washington.
  
• The first circulating coins produced by the Mint were 11,178 copper cents delivered in march 1793.

And here's a link to Wikipedia's entry on the Coinage Act of 1792.