Mint Mark Facts
A mint mark is a letter, symbol or an inscription on a coin indicating the mint where the coin was produced. U.S. coins minted without a mint Mark are usually minted in Philadelphia, but not always.
The value of a Rare Coin can only be determined by knowing where it was minted, the date, rarity, the type of minting, proof or common, and the state of preservation a grade between 1 and 70 for a perfect coin.
The table below lists the mint marks for each of the Mint’s current and historic facilities, and the dates they used the mint mark.
Mint Branch | Mint Mark | Years Mark Used |
---|---|---|
Carson City (NV) | CC | 1870-1893 |
Charlotte (NC) | C | 1838-1861 |
Dahlonega (GA) | D | 1838-1861 |
Denver (CO) | D | 1906-Present |
New Orleans (LA) | O | 1838-1861, 1879-1909 |
Philadelphia (PA) | P | 1942-45, 1979-Present |
San Francisco (CA) | S | 1854-1955, 1968-Present |
West Point (NY) | W | 1984-Present |

P Mint Mark for Philadelphia
Modern Coin Mint Marks
- In 2017, the “P” mint mark appeared for the first time on circulating cents. This change was only for the 2017 issued cents, in honor of the U.S. Mint’s 225th anniversary.
- In 2019, the “W” mint mark appeared for the first time on a circulating coin. The West Point Mint produced 10 million quarters in the 2019 America the Beautiful Quarters Program.
Here’s Another Sampling of Mint Marks