Guide
What do mint marks on coins mean?
A mint mark is the small letter that tells you which U.S. Mint struck a coin. It matters because some mints made far fewer coins in some years, and those dates are worth more to collectors.
Updated October 28, 2026
What each letter means
| Mark | Mint | Years |
|---|---|---|
| No mark | Philadelphia | Most Philadelphia coins before 1980, and cents to this day |
| P | Philadelphia | War nickels (1942β1945); dollars from 1979 and other coins except cents from 1980 |
| D | Denver | 1906 to today |
| S | San Francisco | 1854 to today; since the 1970s mostly proof and collector coins |
| O | New Orleans | 1838β1861 and 1879β1909 |
| CC | Carson City, Nevada | 1870β1893 |
| W | West Point, New York | 1984 on, mostly gold, silver, and commemorative coins |
| C | Charlotte, North Carolina | Gold coins only, 1838β1861 |
| D (before 1862) | Dahlonega, Georgia | Gold coins only, 1838β1861 |
Carson City, Charlotte, and Dahlonega made relatively few coins, so their marks almost always add value. New Orleans coins can too.
Where to find the mint mark
| Coin | Where the mint mark is |
|---|---|
| Lincoln cent | Front, below the date |
| Jefferson nickel, 1938β1964 | Back, to the right of Monticello |
| War nickel, 1942β1945 | Back, a large letter above Monticello's dome |
| Mercury dime, 1916β1945 | Back, to the left of the bundle of rods |
| Roosevelt dime, 1946β1964 | Back, to the left of the torch's base |
| Washington quarter, 1932β1964 | Back, below the wreath |
| Walking Liberty half, 1916β1947 | Back, lower left near the rim (on the front, below the motto, on some 1916 and 1917 coins) |
| Franklin half, 1948β1963 | Back, above the Liberty Bell |
| Kennedy half, 1964 | Back, near the eagle's claw |
| Morgan dollar | Back, below the wreath |
| Peace dollar | Back, near the eagle's wing tip |
| Saint-Gaudens $20 gold | Front, above the date |
| Nickels, dimes, quarters, and halves from 1968 on | Front, near the date or behind the portrait |
Mint marks that make a coin worth more
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent: the San Francisco cent with the designer's initials on the back.
- 1916-D Mercury dime and 1932-D and 1932-S Washington quarters: the key dates of their series.
- Carson City (CC) Morgan dollars, and the 1893-S Morgan.
- Gold from Carson City, Charlotte, and Dahlonega, and the 1911-D $2.50 and 1909-O $5.
A mint mark is one part of a coin's value; the date and the condition matter as much. Don't clean a coin to read its mint mark: use a magnifier and good light, and send us photos if you're not sure.
Coin guides: Which coins are silver Β· Morgan and Peace dollars Β· Old U.S. gold coins Β· Mercury dimes Β· Silver quarters Β· How to sell a coin collection Β· All guides
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