Private Contract Manufacturer Mint

Overview

World Wide Mint, Bloomington MN, was a private mint operating from 1974 until its dissolution in 2000. The company originated as R.G.J., Inc. in 1973 before adopting the World Wide Mint name in 1974. Surviving numismatic evidence confirms production of one-ounce .999 fine silver rounds during the early 1980s, including commercial and themed issues.

The mint is definitively identified through pieces bearing both the initials “WWM” and the full inscription “© World Wide Mint, Inc.”, establishing a direct link between the corporate entity and its mint mark.

Corporate Information

Legal Name
World Wide Mint, Inc.

Original Entity Name
R.G.J., Inc. (1973)

Jurisdiction
Minnesota (Domestic Corporation)

Location
8330 Pillsbury Ave S
Bloomington, Minnesota 55420
United States

Filing Date
October 9, 1973

Name Change
September 25, 1974 (to World Wide Mint, Inc.)

Restated Articles
May 23, 1984

Dissolution
July 11, 2000

Chief Executive Officer
Ronald G. Johnson

Mint Mark

WWM

The initials “WWM” are confirmed as the mint mark of World Wide Mint, Inc., based on early 1980s silver rounds that display both the mint mark and the full corporate name on the same piece.

Products

1 troy ounce .999 fine silver rounds
Themed and commercial silver issues
Generic Liberty-style bullion rounds (early 1980s)

Manufacturing Role

World Wide Mint operated primarily as a contract manufacturer, producing silver rounds for third-party distributors, commercial clients, and promotional issuers. Current evidence supports a production-focused role rather than direct retail distribution.

Attribution Analysis

The attribution of the unmarked 1985 Valentine’s Day silver round to World Wide Mint, Inc. is established through direct design and die linkage to earlier confirmed WWM-marked pieces.

A 1981-dated round bearing both “© World Wide Mint, Inc.” and the “WWM” mint mark definitively establishes WWM as the mint mark of World Wide Mint and identifies the Liberty-style obverse as a house design.

1981 World Wide Mint Silver Round — **Photo courtesy of Silver ‘Round the World**

The 1982 Valentine’s Day round carries the same obverse and a themed reverse with the WWM mint mark, confirming World Wide Mint produced the Valentine’s design series.

The 1985 Valentine’s Day round retains the identical reverse design, layout, typography, and engraving style, but replaces the WWM mint mark with a Texas outline.

Valentines Days Obverse and Reverse Silver Rounds

This represents a mint mark substitution, not a change in manufacturer, consistent with contract minting practices.

Attribution Statement

The 1985 Valentine’s Day silver round is attributed to World Wide Mint, Inc. based on identical design and die characteristics shared with WWM-marked 1982 examples, with the Texas outline replacing the WWM mint mark as a client-specific variation.

Research Status

Confirmed

Corporate identity and location
Operational timeline (1974–2000 as World Wide Mint, Inc.)
Mint mark attribution (WWM)
Early 1980s silver round production

Unconfirmed / Under Research

Full product catalog and mintage scope
Specific clients and distribution partners
Extent of 1970s and 1990s minting activity
Art bar production attribution

Summary

World Wide Mint, Inc. is a documented Minnesota private mint with confirmed early 1980s production of one-ounce silver rounds. The firm’s mint mark “WWM” is directly tied to the corporate entity through dual-marked pieces, establishing clear attribution. Evidence supports its role as a contract manufacturer within the broader U.S. bullion and promotional minting market, though the full extent of its operations remains an active area of research.