guide
Reading Mint Marks on United States Coins
How mint marks identify a production facility and why their position and meaning depend on the coin series.
- topic
- Mint marks
- journal section
- Collector Guides
What a mint mark tells you
A mint mark identifies the United States Mint facility associated with production. Common collector abbreviations include P for Philadelphia, D for Denver, S for San Francisco, W for West Point, CC for Carson City, O for New Orleans, and C for Charlotte. Many Philadelphia issues carry no mint mark.
Context matters
The same letter can have different historical context depending on denomination and year. Mint mark position may also move when a coin design changes. Always identify the series and date before interpreting the mark.
Record what is present
Use “No Mint Mark” when none is present rather than assuming a location from memory. Altered and added mint marks exist, so valuable varieties deserve close comparison with trusted diagnostics.
Sources and further reading
- Circulating Coins · accessed 7/31/2026
Collector reference only. Verify grading, attribution, authenticity, and current values with qualified specialists before buying or selling.