What is a mint mark?

A mint mark is an abbreviation that denotes the minting facility that a coin was manufactured in. There have been 8 mints in the United States since the first national mint opened in Philadelphia in 1793. These mints and the abbreviation used as their mint mark are shown below:

These mint marks are located in a specific area of the coin depending on the kind of coin (e.g. the mint mark on a Lincoln Cent is under the date). The mint mark can be on either the front (obverse) or the back (reverse).

Not all coins have mint marks. For example, most coins minted in Philadelphia don’t have mint marks, with some exceptions. Most coins that were not minted in Philadelphia have mint marks.

There is a paragraph below for each denomination of US Coin. Each paragraph provides an example for each kind of coin in that denomination showing where the mint mark would be located if there is one. ). If you know where to look you can determine (most of the time) where a coin was manufactured. This post shows you where to look.

Half Cents

All half cents were manufactured in Philadelphia and they do not have a mint mark.

Large Cents

Manufactured in Philadelphia, they do not have a mint mark.

Flying Eagle Cents

Manufactured in Philadelphia, they do not have a mint mark.

 Indian Head Cents (1859 to 1907)

Manufactured in Philadelphia, they do not have a mint mark.

Indian Head Cents (1908 to 1909)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those Manufactured in San Francisco have a mint mark on the Reverse at 6 o'clock:

       

Lincoln Cents

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the obverse under the date:

Two Cent Pieces

All two cent pieces were manufactured in Philadelphia and they do not have a mint mark.

Three Cent Pieces

All three cent pieces were manufactured in Philadelphia and they do not have a mint mark.

Shield Nickels

All shield nickels were manufactured in Philadelphia and they do not have a mint mark.

Liberty Head Nickels

In 1912 liberty head nickels were manufactured in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. All other liberty head nickels were manufactured in Philadelphia and they do not have a mint mark. Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse at about 7 o’clock:

Buffalo Nickels

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse at 6 o’clock:

Jefferson Nickels

(1938 to 1942)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse at 3 o’clock

The 1942 coin was issued in two styles (see next paragraph below).

(1942 to 1945)

The 1942 coin was issued in two styles (see previous paragraph above). 1943 to 1945 are all as shown below.

The (large) manufacturers’ mint mark is below “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on the reverse. This is one of the instances where the Philadelphia mint issue includes a mint mark.

(1946 to 1967)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse at 3 o’clock:

(1968 to 1979)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark located at 5 o’clock on the obverse.

(1980 to 2004)

This is another instance where the Philadelphia mint issue includes a mint mark. The D, P, or S is located at 5 o’clock on the obverse:

(2005)

Yet another instance where the Philadelphia mint issue includes a mint mark. The D, P, or S is located under the Liberty/Date on the obverse:

(2006 to Present)

The Philadelphia mint issue includes a mint mark. The D, P, or S is located under the date on the obverse:

Half Dimes (1792 to 1873)

All half dimes were manufactured in Philadelphia and they do not have a mint mark.

Early Dimes from 1796 to 1837

All early dimes were manufactured in Philadelphia and they do not have a mint mark.

Seated Liberty Dimes (1837 to 1891)

(1837 to 1859)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in New Orleans, San Francisco, or Carson City have a mint mark on the reverse above the bow and below “ONE DIME”:

(1860 to 1891, except 1875)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in New Orleans, San Francisco, or Carson City have a mint mark on the reverse at 6 o’clock under the bow.

(1875)

Two varieties of Liberty Dimes were minted in 1875.

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Carson City or San Francisco have the mint mark either above the bow or below the bow (photos above).

Barber Dimes (1862 to 1916)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver, New Orleans, or San Francisco, have a mint mark on the reverse at 6 o’clock under the bow.

Mercury Dimes (1916 to 1945)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco, have a mint mark on the reverse at 7 o’clock near the rim.

Roosevelt Dimes (1946 to Present)

(1946 to 1967)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse to the left of the bottom of the torch.

(1968 to 1979)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver, San Francisco, or West Point have a mint mark located on the obverse above the date.

        

(1980 to Present)

The Philadelphia mint issue includes a mint mark.

All Roosevelt dimes from this period have a mint mark located on the obverse above the date.

        

Twenty Cent Pieces (1875 to 1878)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in San Francisco or Carson City have a mint mark on the reverse at 6 o’clock, above the “Y” in “TWENTY”:

        

Early Quarters (1796 to 1838)

All early quarters were manufactured in Philadelphia and they do not have a mint mark.

Seated Liberty Quarters (1838 to 1891)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in New Orleans, San Francisco, or Carson City have a mint mark on the reverse below the eagle.

Barber Quarters (1892 to 1916)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver, New Orleans, or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse below the eagle’s tail.

Standing Liberty Quarters (1916 to 1930)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the obverse at 7 o’clock to the right of the lowest star.

Washington Quarters (1932 to 1998)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse at 6 o’clock above the ‘R’ in ‘QUARTER’.

State, Territorial, and America The Beautiful Quarters (1999 to Present)

The Philadelphia mint issue includes a mint mark.

All Quarters from this period have a mint mark located on the obverse below ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’.

Early Half Dollars (1794 to 1839)

All early Half Dollars were manufactured in Philadelphia and they do not have a mint mark.

Capped Bust Half Dollars (1807 to 1839)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in New Orleans have a mint mark on the obverse at about 6 o’clock above the date.

        

Seated Liberty Half Dollars (1839 to 1891)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in New Orleans, San Francisco, or Carson City have a mint mark on the reverse below the eagle.

        

Barber Half Dollars (1892 to 1915)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver, New Orleans, or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse below the eagle’s tail.

        

Walking Liberty Half Dollars (1916 to 1947)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse about 7 o’clock near the rim.

        

Franklin Half Dollars (1948 to 1963)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse 12 o’clock under the ‘E’ in ‘STATES’.

        

Kennedy Half Dollars (1964 to 1967)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver have a mint mark on the reverse at about 7 o’clock under the eagle’s right claw.

        

Kennedy Half Dollars (1968 to 1979)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver have a mint mark on the obverse at about 6 o’clock under Kennedy’s bust.

        

Kennedy Half Dollars (1980 to Present)

The Philadelphia mint issue includes a mint mark.

All Half Dollars from this period have a mint mark on the obverse at about 6 o’clock under Kennedy’s bust.

        

Early Dollars (1794 to 1839)

All early Dollars were manufactured in Philadelphia and they do not have a mint mark.

Seated Liberty Dollars (1840 to 1873)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in New Orleans, San Francisco, or Carson City have a mint mark on the reverse below the eagle.

        

Trade Dollars (1873 to 1885)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in San Francisco or Carson City have a mint mark on the reverse below the eagle.

        

Morgan Dollars (1878 to 1921)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in New Orleans, Denver, San Francisco or Carson City have a mint mark on the reverse below the eagle.

        

Peace Dollars (1921 to 1935)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the reverse at about 7:30 o’clock above the eagle’s tail feathers.

        

Eisenhower Dollars (1971 to 1978)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the obverse at about 5 o’clock under the bust.

        

Susan B Anthony Dollars (1979 to 1999)

Those manufactured in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark.

Those manufactured in Denver or San Francisco have a mint mark on the obverse at about 8 o’clock above the shoulder of the bust.

Sacagawea and Presidential Dollars (2000 to Present)

The Philadelphia mint issue includes a mint mark.

All Dollars from this period have a mint mark on the edge of the coin.

That’s all of the mint mark locations for most common US Coins. If there is enough interest in documenting mint mark locations for US gold coins, commemorative coins, or other less common coins we’ll expand this blog post.