northwest

Northwest Territorial Mint (Auburn, Washington)

Overview

Northwest Territorial Mint was a large private mint headquartered in Auburn, Washington that produced bullion rounds, commemorative medals, and challenge coins for collectors, corporations, and government clients. For approximately three decades, it operated as a contract mint, bullion refiner, and custom medal manufacturer. NWTM produced struck bullion rounds, bars, commemoratives, and high-volume challenge coins for military, corporate, and civic clients.

Operations ceased following bankruptcy proceedings in 2016 after federal fraud convictions involving senior management.

Years of Operation

  • Founded: Mid-1980s
  • Ceased operations: 2016

Founding & Ownership

  • Privately owned corporation
  • Principal executive during later years: Bernard Ross Hansen
  • Defunct (bankruptcy liquidation, 2016)

Bullion Products

  • .999 fine silver rounds and bars
  • Fractional silver rounds
  • Silver bars (various weights)
  • Gold bullion issues
  • “Stagecoach” divisible silver bars

Contract & Custom

  • Military challenge coins
  • Law enforcement medals
  • Corporate commemoratives
  • Event and promotional medals

NWTM functioned primarily as a commercial contract mint while also marketing proprietary bullion designs.

Mint Mark

  • Commonly “NWTM”
  • Placement varies (often lower reverse field)
  • Some contract products omit visible mint identification

Manufacturing Characteristics

  • Struck (not cast) production
  • Reeded or plain edges depending on issue
  • Bullion satin to proof-like finishes
  • Standard .999 fine silver purity markings on bullion

Attribution

Confirmed attribution requires either:

  1. Visible NWTM mint mark, or
  2. Documentary evidence (contracts, marketing materials, or die-match analysis).

Because NWTM produced large volumes of third-party contract work, absence of a mint mark does not automatically exclude NWTM manufacture but requires supporting evidence.

Legal & Historical Notes

  • Filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 1, 2016
  • Federal investigation resulted in convictions for wire and mail fraud
  • Assets liquidated during court-supervised proceedings

Coins

Sets/Collections

No sets/collections linked to this mint or issuer yet.