The United States Mint in Philadelphia, in collaboration with the General Services Administration (GSA), is currently auctioning a lot of historic chairs on GSA Auctions. Bidding opened at 2:00 p.m. CT on Sept. 30 and is scheduled to close at the same time on Oct. 7.
However, GSA Auctions is currently offline because of the ongoing federal government shutdown. A notice on the site states that it is "currently unavailable" and that "bid closing dates may be extended based on the duration of the shutdown."
The single lot includes 14 chairs representing two distinct styles tied to the Mint’s long history.
Chairs with a Legacy
The first group — wooden chairs with upholstery cut-outs — was first used in the third Philadelphia Mint meeting room and is believed to have been built by the Mint’s carpentry staff around 1900. They were later moved to the fourth Philadelphia Mint, where they remained in continuous use until heavy wear from decades of service led to their retirement.
The second group — larger red-covered chairs — was purchased for the Philadelphia Mint and remained in use there for at least 50 years before being removed from service.
Historic Artifacts
Though showing their age, the chairs offer a physical link to the Mint’s past, having furnished rooms where staff met to discuss operations and coin production over the course of the 20th century.
"Although these chairs need repair, they would make a great addition to any numismatist’s collection," the Mint stated. "Just imagine inspecting your numismatic collection while sitting in chairs that numerous generations of Philadelphia Mint employees have sat in, discussing the challenges of producing these coins and medals."
The lot remains open for bidding and can be previewed on GSA Auctions once the site is back online.
