A historic door knocker from the Dahlonega Mint in Georgia was presented to the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Georgia in Athens on March 13. The artifact was donated by Susan King, a descendant of Dr. Joseph James Singleton, the first superintendent of the Dahlonega Mint and a key figure in establishing the U.S. Mint branch in Georgia.
The presentation was arranged by Robert L. Harwell II of Hancock and Harwell Rare Coins and Precious Metals in Atlanta. Along with the door knocker, Harwell donated two additional items: a period newspaper and the oldest known gold receipt from the Dahlonega Mint, dated 1839.
Dr. Singleton, who was also the mint’s first treasurer, played a pivotal role in the establishment of the mint. The door knocker, believed to be one of the few surviving relics from the devastating fire that destroyed the mint on December 19, 1878, is a rare piece of history. Harwell explained that when the mint was destroyed, the door knocker was salvaged along with other artifacts and later found its way to the superintendent of the New Orleans Mint. The artifact eventually ended up in the hands of Singleton’s family, first with his daughter in Mobile, Alabama, and later with his granddaughter in Columbus, Georgia.
Now, the door knocker has been passed down to Singleton’s great-great-great-granddaughter, Susan Singleton King, who has donated it to the library. The artifact will be displayed alongside a complete set of gold coins struck at the Dahlonega Mint between 1838 and 1861.
The presentation highlights the ongoing preservation of Georgia’s rich history, particularly the legacy of the Dahlonega Mint, which played a key role in the U.S. gold rush era.
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