What does D or P on a 1944 US nickel mean?

Answer 1

Those letters are mint marks, indicating which US Mint struck the coins. P means it was made in Philadelphia, while D stands for Denver.

Philadelphia nickels made from late 1942 through 1945 are a special case. Nickel metal was needed for the war effort, so the Mint changed the 5¢ coin's composition from cupronickel to an alloy of copper, silver, and manganese. To indicate the change, the mint mark was made larger, moved above the dome of Monticello, and "P" was temporarily added to Philadelphia coins.

If you look at the coins in your pocket you'll find most of them have a mint mark letter. The marks are somewhat inconsistent, but the general rules for modern coins are:

• Coins made in 1968 and later have the mint mark on the front, usually near the date.
• Coins made in 1965/66/67 don't have mint marks.
• On coins made in 1964 or earlier, the mint mark is usually on the back.
• Coins made before 1956, some cents and nickels from 1968 to 1974, and 1979-80 dollars may have an "S" mint mark for San Francisco

Exceptions

• Except for nickels like the one(s) you have, coins from Philadelphia didn't use a "P" mint mark until 1979 or 1980.

• Cents made in Philadelphia do not have mint marks regardless of date