Coin Mint Marks: Where to Find Them and Why They Matter

Short answer: A mint mark is the small letter that shows where a coin was struck: P for Philadelphia, D for Denver, S for San Francisco, W for West Point, and on older coins O for New Orleans, CC for Carson City and C for Charlotte. It usually sits near the date or on the back of the coin. The mint mark matters because some mints struck far fewer coins of a given date, and that scarcity drives collector value.

What each mint mark means

The American Numismatic Association lists the mints and the years their marks were used. The four active mints are Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco and West Point; the former mints include Carson City, Nevada, from 1870 to 1893, and New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1838 to 1909.

• P, Philadelphia. The main mint. Most older Philadelphia coins have no mint mark. The ANA explains that Philadelphia first used a P on the 1942 to 1945 silver war nickels. The P returned on dollar coins in 1979 and spread to every other denomination except the cent in 1980. One unusual exception is the 2017 Lincoln cent, which carries a P to mark the Mint’s 225th anniversary.
• D, Denver. Denver began striking coins in 1906. Older gold coins from Dahlonega, Georgia also carry a D, but the ANA notes that the Georgia mint operated only from 1838 to 1861, so there is little confusion.
• C, Charlotte. The Charlotte Mint in North Carolina operated from 1838 to 1861, striking gold coins from the Southern gold fields. Coins with a C mint mark are collectible and can carry strong premiums depending on rarity and condition.
• S, San Francisco. Opened in 1854 during the California Gold Rush, per the ANA.
• O, New Orleans. Struck coins from 1838 to 1909, including many silver coins.
• CC, Carson City. Operated from 1870 to 1893 to serve the western silver mines. Its output was smaller and largely silver.
• W, West Point. The ANA lists West Point from 1984 to date. West Point mainly makes collector and bullion coins, but special quarters with a W mint mark were released into circulation in 2019 and 2020, so they are worth looking for in ordinary change.

Where to find the mint mark on the coins people bring in

The ANA notes that mint mark locations vary by series: before 1965 they generally appeared on the reverse, and later they shifted to the obverse. Here is where to look on the coins we see most:

• Morgan dollars: on the back, below the wreath. NGC shows a Carson City CC in that spot. Peace dollars also carry the mark on the back. Our Morgan and Peace silver dollar value guide shows both with pictures.
• Mercury dimes (1916 to 1945): PCGS places the D or S at the bottom of the reverse, just to the left of the fasces.
• Walking Liberty halves: PCGS explains that on the 1916 and early 1917 coins the mint mark is on the front, right under the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Later in 1917 it moved to the back, slightly above and to the left of the word HALF, where it stayed. A 1917 half can have it in either place.
• Lincoln cents: on the front, just under the date. NGC illustrates the position of the S under the date on genuine 1909-S VDB cents.
• Washington quarters: PCGS notes that from 1932 to 1964 the mint mark is on the back under the eagle, and in 1968 it moved to the front, to the right of Washington’s hair ribbon.
• War nickels (1942 to 1945): a large P, D or S on the back directly above the dome of Monticello, as NGC describes. Before the war, the ANA notes, the nickel’s mint mark sat on the back to the right of the building. Our guide to Buffalo nickels and silver war nickels covers these coins in detail.
• Buffalo nickels: on the back, beneath the words FIVE CENTS, per PCGS.

Why do some coins have no mint mark?

Many older Philadelphia coins have no mint mark, but there are other reasons a coin may be missing one. During the nationwide coin shortage, the Mint left mint marks off circulating coins dated 1965 through 1967, no matter which mint struck them. Mint marks returned in 1968. The ANA also explains that some circulating coins of the 1970s and 1980s were struck at San Francisco and West Point without mint marks. So a missing mint mark doesn’t automatically mean a coin is rare, or even that it was made in Philadelphia.

Why the mint mark matters

The same date can be common from one mint and scarce from another. The ANA gives a classic example: in 1916, more than 20 million Mercury dimes were struck at Philadelphia and more than 10 million at San Francisco, but only 264,000 at Denver. The 1916 and 1916-S are common, while the 1916-D is scarce and valuable. In the same way, the 1932 Washington quarter is plentiful, but the 1932-D and 1932-S are the rarest in the series.

Carson City is the other famous case. The ANA notes that Carson City’s output was smaller than the other mints’ and largely silver, which is why CC Morgan dollars draw so much collector interest. That interest also draws counterfeiters: NGC shows an 1889-CC Morgan with a fake CC glued onto an ordinary coin, and it explains that a single added or removed letter can change a coin’s value dramatically. That is one more reason to have a valuable-looking coin checked before you sell it.

Have a coin checked in Greenville

If you are not sure what the letter on your coin means, bring it in as it is, and please do not clean it first. We examine coins for their dates, mint marks, condition and potential collector value, and when appropriate we use additional testing equipment to help verify authenticity and metal content. We’ll walk you through your offer before you decide whether to sell. A free, no-pressure coin evaluation is available if you just want to know what you have.

No appointment is needed; bring a valid photo ID, which South Carolina requires. Want the full process? Read our guide on how to sell coins in the Upstate, or see what we buy on our sell coins page.

Greenville Gold & Silver is a family-run shop at 1637 Woodruff Rd in Greenville, serving the Upstate since 2012, with 4.9 stars from 800+ Google reviews. We’re open Monday to Friday 10 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 3. Stop in, or call 864-901-7975.