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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".
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What is W on a 1918 Mercury head dime?
It's actually an intertwined A+W, and is the monogram of the coin's designer A.A. Weinmann. It appears on all Mercury dimes regardless of date. Monograms on older US coins cause a lot of confusion. Most coins had their mint marks on the reverse (back) side until 1964. Because all modern coins have their mint marks on the obverse (front) many people think that the older monograms are mint marks.
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 Somehow politicians concluded that those coins were being withdrawn by coin collectors rather than metal speculators, and removed mint marks as a way to reduce coins' appeal to collectors.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.
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 is the value of a 1979 us dollar coin with no mint mark?
All 1979 US $1 coins (Susan B. Anthony dollars) carry a mint mark next to the neckline of her portrait. 1979 dollars were the first coins since the famous "war nickels" to carry a P mint mark for Philadelphia; the next year all other Philadelphia coins except cents also started using mint marks.
A 1943 Jefferson nickel has a large S on the back. What does this mean?
The "S" is the mint mark for the US Mint at San Francisco, California. All US Mint facilities place their own letter, which identifies them, on nearly all of the coins they mint. The larger than normal mint marks on the "war nickels" were placed there to indicate the coins were of a different alloy than previous nickels, containing 35% silver instead of nickel.
Do all gold coins have dates and mint marks?
All real US gold coins have dates but not all have a mintmarks
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 is W on a 1918 Mercury head dime?
It's actually an intertwined A+W, and is the monogram of the coin's designer A.A. Weinmann. It appears on all Mercury dimes regardless of date. Monograms on older US coins cause a lot of confusion. Most coins had their mint marks on the reverse (back) side until 1964. Because all modern coins have their mint marks on the obverse (front) many people think that the older monograms are mint marks.
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.
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.
How many coins were in the 1955 mint set?
A 1955 US Mint set contained 22 coins. It had 2 coins from each Mint that produced coins for circulation. All US Mint sets from 1947 through 1958 are double sets.
What is the value of a 1979 us dollar coin with no mint mark?
All 1979 US $1 coins (Susan B. Anthony dollars) carry a mint mark next to the neckline of her portrait. 1979 dollars were the first coins since the famous "war nickels" to carry a P mint mark for Philadelphia; the next year all other Philadelphia coins except cents also started using mint marks.
A 1943 Jefferson nickel has a large S on the back. What does this mean?
The "S" is the mint mark for the US Mint at San Francisco, California. All US Mint facilities place their own letter, which identifies them, on nearly all of the coins they mint. The larger than normal mint marks on the "war nickels" were placed there to indicate the coins were of a different alloy than previous nickels, containing 35% silver instead of nickel.
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.
Where are mint marks located on US coins?
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.
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.
