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The usual location for coins dated 1968 or later is on the obverse near the date. Coins from 1968 to 1979 without a mint mark are from Philadelphia. Before that, mint mark positions varied significantly. You have to know the date and design of the coin to find its mint mark. The site www.coinfacts.com lists positions for every mint mark and date since the first mint marks were used starting in 1838.
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When were coins first made in the us?
US coins were first struck by the US mint located at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1793.
What do the mint marks on US coins represent?
A mint mark on any coin (not just the United States) indicates where a coin was minted. For modern US coins, P stands for Philadelphia, D is Denver, and S is San Francisco.
What is the value of a 1957 US silver certificate with no mint mark?
Please check your bill again. US paper money doesn't have mint marks, only coins have mint marks. In fact, mints only make coins. Bills are printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. There's more information at the qustion "What is the value of a 1957 US 1 dollar silver certificate?".
Did the US Mint put mint marks on every coin?
No. In fact, there are no mint marks on coins made in Philadelphia prior to 1979, except for the famous "war nickels" issued from 1942 to 1945. The first US mint marks were used in 1838 when branch mints were opened in New Orleans, Dahlonega, and Charlotte. During the changeover from silver to clad coinage mint marks weren't used on any coins dated 1965-67. Starting in 1979, $1 coins gained the P mint mark. The following year all other Philadelphia coins except for cents also began using the P mint mark. Philadelphia cents continue to be struck without mint marks, for complex reasons having to do with special production at other mints when Philadelphia and Denver can't meet the demand for pennies.
Do all US coins have mint marks?
Many US coins are "plain"; i.e. they don't have mint marks. The explanation can be somewhat confusing, but in general:Most coins made at Philadelphia before 1980 don't have mint marks.There were no mint marks on any coins dated 1965-1967.Since 1975, the only cents with mint marks are from Denver ("D")The "whys" and "whats":From 1793 to 1837 the US Mint had only one facility, located in Philadelphia. There was no need to identify where a coin was minted so none of them carried mint marks. When additional mints were opened in 1838 their coins did have mint marks but for reasons unknown Philadelphia coins were still made without a mint mark. That practice became a sort of tradition and continued until 1942, when a "P" mint mark was first used to distinguish between standard cupronickel 5¢ pieces and those made in a special wartime alloy of silver, copper, and manganese. After the war, the old practice was resumed and continued until 1979 when a "P" was added to $1 coins and other denominations the next year.Mint marks were removed from all coins during the changeover from silver to clad coinage. Some politicians were erroneously concerned that collectors would hoard the new coins and forced the Mint to make them as indistinguishable as possible.During times of high demand for cents, extra pennies are sometimes struck at West Point or San Francisco. These batches are much smaller than those made at Philadelphia and Denver, so the decision was made that cents from all mints except Denver would continue to be plain as a way of avoiding "instant rarities".
Do all gold coins have dates and mint marks?
All real US gold coins have dates but not all have a mintmarks
When were coins first made in the us?
US coins were first struck by the US mint located at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1793.
Do all US coins have a mint mark?
No. In fact, huge numbers of older US coins don't have mint marks. For almost 180 years the Philadelphia mint didn't put a mint mark on any coins struck there. The only exceptions were the "war nickels" made from 1942 to 1945. Starting in 1979, a "P" mint mark was added to $1 coins, and the next year it appeared on all other denominations except the cent. Cents minted at Philadelphia still don't have mint marks.
What if there's no mint mark on a coin?
For most US coins, it means the coin was minted at Philadelphia before 1980, when the P mint mark was adopted. Cents minted at Philadelphia and West Point don't have mint marks, and all coins dated 1965 through 1967 don't have mint marks regardless of where they were produced.
What do the mint marks on US coins represent?
A mint mark on any coin (not just the United States) indicates where a coin was minted. For modern US coins, P stands for Philadelphia, D is Denver, and S is San Francisco.
What is the value of a 1957 US silver certificate with no mint mark?
Please check your bill again. US paper money doesn't have mint marks, only coins have mint marks. In fact, mints only make coins. Bills are printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. There's more information at the qustion "What is the value of a 1957 US 1 dollar silver certificate?".
How do you recognize mint marks on US silver certificates?
Mint marks only appear on coins. US paper money is printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, while coins are made by the US Mint. They're completely separate operations. When silver certificates were issued the BEP had only one facility, in Washington DC. Any small-size bill you may have was printed at that location.
Did the US Mint put mint marks on every coin?
No. In fact, there are no mint marks on coins made in Philadelphia prior to 1979, except for the famous "war nickels" issued from 1942 to 1945. The first US mint marks were used in 1838 when branch mints were opened in New Orleans, Dahlonega, and Charlotte. During the changeover from silver to clad coinage mint marks weren't used on any coins dated 1965-67. Starting in 1979, $1 coins gained the P mint mark. The following year all other Philadelphia coins except for cents also began using the P mint mark. Philadelphia cents continue to be struck without mint marks, for complex reasons having to do with special production at other mints when Philadelphia and Denver can't meet the demand for pennies.
What does the us mint produce?
The US Mint produces circulating coins, commemorative coins, and bullion coins for the United States.
How do you determine the mint mark of a coin?
There is no standarization for mint marks on many coins. You have to know which country issued the coin, its denomination, and date. With that information you can check various reference guides to tell you where the mint mark is located and what to look for. To make things even more complicated, some coins don't have mint marks, some use letters, and some use symbols. In 1968 the US made an attempt to bring some order to the confusion by placing mint marks on the front of most coins, usually as close to the date as practical. Before that mint marks could be anywhere but were generally on the reverse side of the coin. Even so there are multiple exceptions: until 1980 coins made in Philadelphia didn't have a mint mark, and 1-cent coins from Philadelphia are still "plain". The date position on quarters has been moved from the front to the back, so the mint mark is next to Washington's wig instead. And finally, $1 coins have the mint mark on their edge!
Do all US coins have mint marks?
Many US coins are "plain"; i.e. they don't have mint marks. The explanation can be somewhat confusing, but in general:Most coins made at Philadelphia before 1980 don't have mint marks.There were no mint marks on any coins dated 1965-1967.Since 1975, the only cents with mint marks are from Denver ("D")The "whys" and "whats":From 1793 to 1837 the US Mint had only one facility, located in Philadelphia. There was no need to identify where a coin was minted so none of them carried mint marks. When additional mints were opened in 1838 their coins did have mint marks but for reasons unknown Philadelphia coins were still made without a mint mark. That practice became a sort of tradition and continued until 1942, when a "P" mint mark was first used to distinguish between standard cupronickel 5¢ pieces and those made in a special wartime alloy of silver, copper, and manganese. After the war, the old practice was resumed and continued until 1979 when a "P" was added to $1 coins and other denominations the next year.Mint marks were removed from all coins during the changeover from silver to clad coinage. Some politicians were erroneously concerned that collectors would hoard the new coins and forced the Mint to make them as indistinguishable as possible.During times of high demand for cents, extra pennies are sometimes struck at West Point or San Francisco. These batches are much smaller than those made at Philadelphia and Denver, so the decision was made that cents from all mints except Denver would continue to be plain as a way of avoiding "instant rarities".
Why don't 1965 coins have mint marks?
The US suspended the use of mint marks on all coins dated 1965-67. The mints were operating 24/7 making new clad coins to replace all of the silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars that were being pulled from circulation and melted. Somehow politicians concluded that those coins were being withdrawn by coin collectors rather than metal speculators, and removed mint marks as a way to reduce coins' appeal to collectors. Needless to say hoarding continued and by 1968 mint marks were restored. Also please be careful to note that coins minted at Philadelphia prior to 1980 (before 1979 for dollars) don't carry mint marks so not finding a P is perfectly normal.
