Public Law 109–230, the San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Coin Act, dated June 15, 2006, authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue gold and silver commemorative coins emblematic of the San Francisco Old Mint Building, its importance to California and the history of the United States, and its role in rebuilding San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire. The $5 gold coin had a limited mintage of 100,000, and the $1 silver coin had a limit of 500,000 across all product options. Both coins were produced at the United States Mint at San Francisco and bore the "S" mint mark.
The obverse design of the $5 gold coin is a rendition of the Old Mint modeled on the original 1869 construction drawing by A.B. Mullett.
The reverse design is a replica of the 1906 Half-Eagle Coronet Liberty eagle reverse, designed by Christian Gobrecht.