Where Is the Mint Mark on US Coins? [Location Chart]
On modern US coins the mint mark is on the front (obverse): below the date on cents, below the date on nickels since 2006, above the date on dimes, to the right of Washington’s neck on quarters, and above the date on half dollars. P is Philadelphia, D Denver, S San Francisco and W West Point. Coins dated 1965 to 1967 have no mint mark, and Philadelphia cents have none except those dated 2017.
Mint mark location chart
| Coin | Years | Where the mint mark is |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln cent | 1909 to today | Front, below the date |
| Indian Head cent | 1908 to 1909 | Back, below the wreath |
| Buffalo nickel | 1913 to 1938 | Back, below FIVE CENTS |
| Jefferson nickel | 1938 to 1964 | Back, right of Monticello |
| Jefferson nickel (wartime silver) | 1942 to 1945 | Back, large letter above Monticello, including P |
| Jefferson nickel | 1968 to 2004 | Front, right of Jefferson’s bust, near the date |
| Jefferson nickel | 2005 | Front, under LIBERTY |
| Jefferson nickel | 2006 to today | Front, below the date |
| Mercury dime | 1916 to 1945 | Back, left of the bundle of rods (fasces), near the rim |
| Roosevelt dime | 1946 to 1964 | Back, left of the torch base |
| Roosevelt dime | 1968 to today | Front, above the date |
| Washington quarter | 1932 to 1964 | Back, below the eagle and wreath |
| Washington quarter | 1968 to today | Front, lower right, to the right of Washington’s neck |
| Kennedy half dollar | 1964 | Back, below the eagle’s claw holding the olive branch |
| Kennedy half dollar | 1968 to today | Front, above the date |
| Morgan dollar | 1878 to 1921 | Back, below the wreath, above DO in DOLLAR |
| Presidential dollar | 2007 onward | On the edge, in the edge lettering |
Front means the side with the portrait (obverse); back means the reverse. Check a coin catalog such as the Red Book before buying or selling based on a mint mark.
What the letters mean
| Mark | Mint | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| No mark | Usually Philadelphia | Philadelphia used no mark before 1980, except wartime nickels; cents still carry none |
| P | Philadelphia | On most coins since 1980; on cents only in 2017 |
| D | Denver | Since 1906. On gold coins from 1838 to 1861, D means Dahlonega, Georgia |
| S | San Francisco | Since 1854; today mostly proof and collector coins |
| W | West Point | Mostly bullion and commemorative coins; 2019 W quarters were released into circulation |
| CC | Carson City | 1870 to 1893 |
| O | New Orleans | 1838 to 1909 |
| C | Charlotte | Gold coins, 1838 to 1861 |
Why does my coin have no mint mark?
- It was made in Philadelphia before 1980, or it is a cent from any year other than 2017.
- It is dated 1965, 1966 or 1967. The Mint left mint marks off all coins in those years.
- It is worn. Mint marks are small and sit near the rim or date, which wear first. Try raking light before deciding it is missing.
- It is a known error. A few famous coins lack a mark that should be there, such as the 1922 “no D” cent and the 1982 no-P dime. These are valuable, so have one authenticated.
Mint mark or designer initials?
Small letters on a coin are not always mint marks. Designer initials catch many people out:
- VDB on Lincoln cents: Victor David Brenner, on the back at the bottom in 1909, and on Lincoln’s shoulder from 1918.
- FG on Lincoln Memorial cents (1959 to 2008): Frank Gasparro, on the back to the right of the building.
- JS on Roosevelt dimes: John Sinnock, on the front below the neck.
How to read a tiny or worn mint mark
- Use light from a low angle. Hold a light almost level with the coin so the raised letter casts a shadow. Overhead light flattens it.
- Rotate the coin. Turn it slowly under the light. A worn letter often appears at one angle only.
- Magnify 5x to 10x. That is enough to read the letter. More helps for repunched mint marks, where an earlier punch leaves a doubled outline (for example a D over another D, or a D over an S).
- Photograph it. A sharp photo lets you compare with catalog images and ask other collectors. Hold coins by the edge so you do not leave fingerprints.
LoupeLens keeps the flashlight on while you zoom up to 40x, and you can dim it to cut glare on shiny proof coins. More on lighting and photographing coins is in coin collecting with a digital loupe and the coin magnifier page.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the mint mark on a penny?
On Lincoln cents it is on the front, directly below the date. Philadelphia cents have no mint mark, except those dated 2017, which carry a P.
Where is the mint mark on a quarter?
On quarters from 1968 to today it is on the front, at the lower right, to the right of Washington’s neck. On silver quarters from 1932 to 1964 it is on the back, below the eagle.
Where is the mint mark on a nickel?
Since 2006 it is on the front below the date. From 1968 to 2004 it is on the front to the right of Jefferson’s bust. On older nickels it is on the back, right of Monticello, or above Monticello on 1942 to 1945 wartime nickels.
Where is the mint mark on a dime?
On Roosevelt dimes from 1968 to today it is on the front, above the date. From 1946 to 1964 it is on the back, left of the torch.
What does no mint mark mean?
Usually the coin was made in Philadelphia before 1980, or it is a cent. Coins dated 1965 to 1967 have no mint mark at all. A worn mark can also be hard to see without side lighting.