SPAIN Barcelona

The Mint building (outlined in yellow) is located on a block surrounded by the streets Flassaders, Cirera, Mosques,
y Seca (Seca = Ceca en Catalan). GOOGLEmaps

The old Mint building, in the Gothic Quarter of the city, occupies the entire block formed by Flassaders, Cirera, Seca y Mosques Streets, with the main entrance on the first of these streets. The building remains relatively intact, but with some severe alterations. The building today is used by a store, a culinary club, a sculptors gallery, and apartments, among other things, although the part with the main entrance and patio belongs to City Hall and is scheduled to be restored for cultural facilities. The part which corresponds to the store may be visited by the general public. The last coins was struck here in 1879, year in which the building was closed.

Main entrance to the Mint, on Flassaders Street.

The coat of arms above the main entrance still shows remains of its original coloring.

Corner of the Mint building on Flassaders (left) and Cirera Streets (ahead), with doors and windows which corresponded to living quarters for Mint officials and workers. This part of the old Mint building is still used today for apartments and flats.

Corner of the Mint building on Cirera (left) and Seca Streets (right), where the Mint chapel is believed to have been located. This part of the old Mint building is occupied today by apartments and flats.

Façade of part of the old Mint building on Seca Street, today apartments and flats.

Façade of part of the old Mint building on Seca Street where the laminating mills were located, today apartments (first door) and the gallery of a sculptor (second door).

Façade of part of the old Mint building on Seca Street where the laminating mills were located (first windows) today the gallery of a sculptor, and the foundry ovens (farther windows) today a Basque culinary club.

Smokestack of the foundry of the old Mint (above the Basque culinary club) as seen from Seca Street

The smokestack of the foundry indicates de corner of the Mint building on the corner of Seca and Mosques Streets, in the Ribera or Born neighborhood of the Gothic Quarter, densely occupied since ancient times.

Entrance to the stairway which leads down to the cellar beneath the Hammam shop, where the charcoal for the foundry is thought to have been stored.

Interior of the stairway which leads down to the cellar beneath the Hammam shop, where the charcoal for the foundry is thought to have been stored.

Exit of the stairway which leads down to the cellar beneath the Hammam shop, where the charcoal for the foundry is thought to have been stored.

Cellar beneath the Hammam shop, where the charcoal for the foundry is thought to have been stored. On the left is a hatchway where charcoal may have been dumped from the street into the cellar, and the sloped or ramp-like nature of the stairway (right) could have facilitated he movement of charcoal in wheeled carts.