Mint Marks on US Coins
 1793 to date |
Philadelphia Mint: The first coins were minted at the US Mint in Philadelphia and no mint marks were used. The first appearance of the P mint mark was in 1942 on the Jefferson nickel. The P mint mark was not used on most coins until 1980. No mint mark is used to designate the Philadelphia mint on the Lincoln cent. |
 1838-1861 |
Charlotte Mint: In 1835 Congress passed a bill that established three branch mints in the South. The first coins to be struck outside of the Philadelphia mint were coined at the new Charlotte mint. Only gold coins were minted. |
 1838-1861 |
Dahlonega Mint: This was the second of the Southern branch mints. Like the Charlotte mint, Dahlonega minted only gold coins. Any D mint mark before 1906 stood for Dahlonega, not Denver. |
 1838-1909 |
New Orleans Mint: The third Southern branch mints was set up here. The New Orleans branch differed from its sisters in that it minted coins other than just gold and it produced US coins after the Civil War into the twentieth century. |
 1854 to date |
San Francisco Mint: Beginning after the gold rush into today, coins minted in California bear the S mint mark. Almost every twentieth century coin type bears an S. Since 1968, this branch mint strikes mostly proof coins. |
 1870-1893 |
Carson City Mint: Not to be outdone by its neighbor to the west, Nevada had its own mint for a while. Discovery of silver in Nevada gave rise to this mint. |
 1906 to date |
Denver Mint: The second incarnation of the D mint mark has been seen since 1906. The Denver mint has out produced its older sister in Philadelphia. At times the absense of a mint mark has stood for Denver. |
 1984 to date |
West Point Mint: Originally, there was only a bullion depository here. Now it makes gold and silver commemorative coins and American Eagle coins in proof and uncirculated condition. Only in rare instances have regular circulation coins been minted at the West Point branch mint, however none of them bear the W mint mark. |
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