answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Actually, since 1955 about half of all US cents don't have a mint mark. The coins are made at the Philadelphia and Denver mints in roughly equal quantities.

Philadelphia has never put its "P" mint mark on cents even though it's been on all other denominations since 1980. The reason is that sometimes demand for pennies can be so high that Philadelphia and Denver can't keep up even working 24/7. When that happens one or both of the 2 other mints at San Francisco and West Point are pressed into service as well.

Those 2 mints normally only make collectors' coins and can't produce anywhere near as many cents as Denver and Philadelphia. If there were small numbers of S- and W-mint pennies they'd be seen as "instant collectibles" and would disappear from circulation right away. Instead, the Mint's directors decided that cents from Philadelphia, San Francisco and/or West Point would all be "plain" (i.e. no mint mark). The coins get mixed together in circulation and no one can tell the difference.

The backstory: Philadelphia never used a P mint mark on most coins up till 1980. The reasons are a bit complex. When the US first started making coins Philadelphia had the only Mint so a mint mark wasn't considered necessary. When other mints opened they did use mint marks but by then it was considered traditional for Philadelphia coins to be "plain". In fact, up till 1979 only one issue of Philadelphia coins ever had a P mint mark: during WWII nickels were made out of a copper/silver/manganese alloy to save metal for the war effort. A "P" was used from 1942 to 1945 to indicate those coins made from the new alloy.

The P disappeared from nickels after the war ended, so all Philadelphia coins were "plain" once again. Finally in 1979 the Mint's directors decided to make mint marks consistent and began using the P mark on $1 coins that year and other denominations the next year, except for pennies.

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why do some pennies not have mint marks?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What mint marks on pennies are rare?

In general, "S" mint marks from the San Fransisco mint are more scarce than other mint marks when it comes to pennies. But just because it has an "S" on it doesn't make it a rare, or even scarce coin.


If there isn't any mint marks on pennies where were they minted?

No mint mark coins are produced at the Philadelphia,PA


Why do your 1944 pennies not have a mint mark?

Coins made at the Philadelphia mint did not have mint marks until the 1980s. Your coin was made at the Philadelphia mint.


What is the total number of wheat pennies all mint marks 1909 to 1958?

25,771,428,376


If an Australian Penny only has the year on it where was it minted?

The majority of Australian Pennies with no Mint Mark were minted at the Melbourne Mint. The Sydney Mint was closed in 1926. All other Australian Pennies will have one of a variety of Mint Marks on them indicating that they were either minted at the Perth Mint, or a variety of foreign Mints.


What U.S. pennies of the year 1982 with mint marks S D or plain are 95 percent copper?

100%


What markings are there on pennies?

If you mean mint marks, cents have only been issued at Philadelphia and West Point (no mint mark from either mint), San Francisco ("S") and Denver ("D").


What year did they stop putting s and d on pennies?

There was a brief period of 1965-67 when no U.S. coins had any mint marks. However, since 1968, D and S mint marks returned, and P was added to most coins in 1980. Philadelphia pennies still lack a mint mark, but Denver ones are marked with D, and proofs from San Francisco have the S.


Do all 1919 wheat pennies have mint marks?

No - there are three types ... 392,021,000 with no mint mark 57,154,000 with D mint mark 57,154,000 with S mint mark for 1919 USA 1 Cent. The mint mark (if present) is below the date.


Where are pennies mented?

Pennies are minted at three locations in the US; The San Francisco Mint, The Denver Mint and the Philadelphia Mint. Pennies from San Francisco have an "S" on them. Pennies from Denver have a "D" on them and pennies from Philadelphia have no letter.


Do pennies without a letter under the date have any value?

It depends on what the date is. Remember, unlike other coins minted in Philadelphia since 1980, ALL cents minted there since pennies were first made in 1793 don't have mint marks. If you're in the western US most cents there come from the Denver mint and have a small D, but from the Mississippi eastward the majority are from Philadelphia and have no mint marks.


Are copper pennies valuable?

For metal content, or melt value, copper pennies (pre-1982) are worth about 2 cents each. As far as collector value, that depends more on specific dates, mint marks, and condition.