What Is a Mint Mark on a Coin? (D, P, S Explained)
Mint Mark
A mint mark is a small letter on a coin that indicates where it was produced.
In the United States, coins are minted at several facilities, and each location is represented by a specific letter.
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Common U.S. Mint Marks
P – Philadelphia Mint
D – Denver Mint
S – San Francisco Mint
Some older coins may have no mint mark, which typically means they were produced in Philadelphia.
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Where to Find the Mint Mark
The location of the mint mark varies depending on the coin type and year.
For Lincoln cents:
- On Wheat Pennies (1909–1958), the mint mark appears below the date
- On modern pennies, it is also located near the date on the front (obverse)
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Why Mint Marks Matter
Mint marks can significantly affect a coin’s rarity and value.
Some mint locations produced fewer coins in certain years, making those coins more desirable to collectors.
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Example: “D” Mint Mark
A coin with a D mint mark was produced at the Denver Mint.
Many of our coin sets feature Denver-minted coins, known for their strong strikes and consistent quality.
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Mint Marks in Coin Nerds Products
When you see a listing that includes a mint mark (such as “D” or “S”), it means the coins in that set all come from that specific mint.
This helps collectors build more complete and organized collections.
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Related Terms
Mint – Learn more
Mintage – Learn more
Obverse – Learn more
Reverse – Learn more
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