Refiner, Mint and Contract Manufacturer
Overview
Tri-State Refining and Investment Company (Tri-State Mint) was a U.S.-based silver refining and private minting operation active primarily from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s, with continued successor activity into the late 1980s. The company originated in silver recovery from photographic and industrial materials and expanded into bullion bars, rounds, and contract-struck commemorative medallions.
By 1980–1981, operations were centralized in Sioux Falls, South Dakota under the control of Robert Hoff. Although the company experienced significant financial disruption around 1981–1982, including internal theft and ownership disputes, it did not terminate cleanly. Instead, operations continued through reorganized entities, including a 1988 corporate rename to Von Hoff International and ongoing minting activity under Tri-State Mint.
Tri-State Refining is documented as the manufacturer of 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial commemorative medallion sets produced under contract for Colonial Coins of Houston, Texas.
Location
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Earlier operations tied to Midwestern silver recovery activities
Years of Operation
Active refining and minting approximately mid-1970s through 1981–1982
Successor and reorganized operations continued through the late 1980s
Corporate rename to Von Hoff International on March 17, 1988
Key Individuals
Robert Hoff served as the principal operator during the Sioux Falls period and controlled successor entities including Von Hoff International and Tri-State Mint.
Lorentz Opdahl founded the precursor silver recovery business and was involved in early ownership structure and subsequent litigation.
Products
Silver bullion bars and rounds
Gold, silver, and bronze commemorative medallions
Contract-struck medallion sets in single, three-piece, and six-piece configurations
Industrial silver recovery and refining output
Known Contract Work
Texas Sesquicentennial Commemorative Medallions issued in 1986
Manufacturer Tri-State Refining
Issuer and distributor Colonial Coins operating as Texas Sesquicentennial Coins, Inc.
Products included individual medallions, three-piece sets, and six-piece sets in gold, silver, and bronze
Documented in State of Texas Sesquicentennial inventory records dated March 13, 1986
Manufacturing Characteristics
Origin in industrial silver recovery processes
Capability for multi-metal production including gold, silver, and bronze
Contract manufacturing model supporting third-party issuers
Late-period production reflects transition-era operational conditions
Corporate Evolution
The company originated as a silver recovery operation and transitioned into refining and minting activities. Operations were relocated and incorporated in Sioux Falls around 1980–1981. Financial disruption, internal theft, and litigation affected the business around 1981–1982. Rather than dissolving, the company continued under reorganized control. On March 17, 1988, the corporate name was changed to Von Hoff International, Inc. Related minting operations were conducted under Tri-State Mint, Inc. by 1989.
Environmental and Legal Record
The Sioux Falls mint facility was involved in a documented chemical release incident in 1989 involving cyanide-bearing solution used in silver processing. This resulted in state enforcement action and settlement. Later federal environmental cost recovery actions in the 1990s identified Tri-State Mint, Tri-State Professional Recovery, and Von Hoff International as responsible parties for remediation at the site.
Relationship to Medallic Art Company
Tri-State Refining was not the same entity as Medallic Art Company. However, by approximately 1989–1991, Robert Hoff–controlled entities associated with Tri-State Mint acquired the assets of Medallic Art Company. This represents a later-stage expansion and does not reflect the structure of Tri-State Refining during its original refining and minting period.
Attribution Notes
Tri-State Refining did not have a single clean successor and should not be treated as a continuously operating entity under one name. For attribution purposes, Tri-State Refining, Von Hoff International, and Tri-State Mint represent linked but distinct phases within a broader operational lineage controlled by Robert Hoff.
Summary
Tri-State Refining and Investment Company was a transitional-era private mint that bridged industrial silver recovery and contract numismatic production. It is the documented manufacturer of the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial commemorative medallion program, working under contract for Colonial Coins. The company’s history is defined by rapid expansion, internal disruption, and eventual continuation through reorganized entities, culminating in later operations under Tri-State Mint and the acquisition of Medallic Art Company assets.
