U.S. Mint Marks: P, D, S, W, CC and O
What is a mint mark?
A mint mark is a letter stamped into a coin to show where it was made. An 1835 act of Congress established them. The first marked coins appeared in 1838, when branches opened in Charlotte, North Carolina; Dahlonega, Georgia; and New Orleans.
The mark is added to the master design for each facility, so every coin from that branch carries it. Collectors care because the same date can be common from one mint and scarce from another. Many collectors try to own one of every date and mint mark in a series.
Which mint marks has the U.S. used?
| Mark | Mint | Years the mark was used | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | Philadelphia, PA | 1942–1945; 1979–present | First U.S. Mint (1792); most of its coins carried no mark for many years |
| D | Denver, CO | 1906–present | Strikes circulating coins today |
| S | San Francisco, CA | 1854–1955; 1968–present | Opened during the Gold Rush; proof coins since 1968 |
| W | West Point, NY | 1984–present | Mostly collector and precious metal coins |
| CC | Carson City, NV | 1870–1893 | Closed; largely silver |
| O | New Orleans, LA | 1838–1861; 1879–1909 | Closed; silver and some gold |
| C | Charlotte, NC | 1838–1861 | Closed; gold coins only |
| D | Dahlonega, GA | 1838–1861 | Closed; gold coins only |
Note that D appears twice. On gold coins dated 1838 to 1861, D means Dahlonega. On coins from 1906 on, D means Denver.
What does P mean, and why don’t all Philadelphia coins have one?
Philadelphia was the first U.S. Mint, and for most of its history it simply left its coins unmarked. A P first appeared in 1942, on wartime Jefferson nickels made without nickel. On those coins a large P sits above the dome of Monticello on the reverse. The P was dropped after the war.
It came back in 1979 on the Susan B. Anthony dollar, and from 1980 it appeared on every denomination except the cent. Lincoln cents from Philadelphia carry no mark, with one exception: 2017 cents carry a P to mark the Mint’s 225th anniversary.
What does D mean?
Denver began striking coins in 1906 and still makes circulating coins today. Before Denver opened, a D on a U.S. coin meant the Dahlonega Mint in Georgia, which struck only gold from 1838 to 1861.
What does S mean?
The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854, during the California Gold Rush, and struck large numbers of gold and silver coins. It made circulating coins with an S until 1955. In 1968, proof coin production moved from Philadelphia to San Francisco, and proofs began carrying the S. A famous example is the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent.
What does W mean?
West Point, New York, started as a bullion depository and became an official U.S. Mint facility in 1988. Its W first appeared on the 1984-W $10 gold coin for the Los Angeles Olympics. It was also the first U.S. legal-tender gold coin issued since 1933.
Today West Point strikes many collector versions of American Eagles and other precious metal coins. Burnished and proof Eagles from West Point carry a W. In 2019 a W appeared on circulating quarters for the first time.
West Point also strikes bullion Eagles, but those carry no mint mark at all. From 1973 to 1986 it also made circulating cents with no mark.
What do CC and O mean?
CC (Carson City, Nevada) struck coins from 1870 to 1893. It opened to serve the Western silver mining boom, and its output was small and largely silver. Today it is best known for its Morgan silver dollars. CC is the only two-letter U.S. mint mark.
O (New Orleans) struck coins from 1838 to 1861, then again from 1879 to 1909. It made large quantities of silver coins and some gold. The Civil War stopped its first run. Both mints have long been closed.
Where does the mint mark appear?
It depends on the coin. For most U.S. coins before 1965, the mark was on the reverse. On Morgan dollars, for example, it sits on the reverse below the wreath. From 1965 to 1967, no mint marks appeared on circulating coins at all; the Coinage Act of 1965 removed them during a coin shortage. When they returned in 1968, they moved to the obverse.
On modern collector and bullion coins, the position varies by design. Graded coin labels list the mint mark in the date line, such as 2015-W. Our coin label guide explains how to read it.
What else looks like a mint mark but isn’t?
Designer initials. Many coins carry a small artist mark, and it is easy to mistake one for a mint mark. On the American Silver Eagle, for example, the monogram of designer Adolph A. Weinman sits on the obverse. It is not a mint mark. If you are unsure, check the date line on the holder or a reference guide.
Affinity Collectibles in Ronkonkoma, NY, an NGC Authorized Dealer and ANA member, is glad to help identify the mint on a certified coin. Reach us through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some coins have no mint mark?
Most Philadelphia coins before 1980 have none, cents from Philadelphia still have none, no circulating coins had marks from 1965 to 1967, and bullion American Eagles are struck without one.
Which U.S. mints are still open?
Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco and West Point. Carson City, New Orleans, Charlotte and Dahlonega no longer strike coins.
Is a coin with a rare mint mark always valuable?
Not on its own. Scarcity depends on the specific date, mint and grade together. A mint mark that is scarce in one year can be common in another.
What was the first coin with a W mint mark?
The 1984-W $10 Olympic gold coin, struck at West Point.