Mint Marks: The Tiny Letter That Can Multiply a Coin's Value

Two coins, same design, same year. One is worth face value; the other is worth a car. Often the only difference is a letter smaller than a grain of rice: the mint mark, which tells you which U.S. Mint facility struck the coin. Because some branches struck far fewer coins than others, the mint mark is frequently the difference between common and rare.

What the Letters Mean

Where to Find the Mint Mark

On modern coins, the mint mark sits on the obverse (heads side): under the date on Lincoln cents, right of Jefferson's ponytail on nickels, above the date on Roosevelt dimes, right of Washington's ribbon on quarters. Before 1965 most marks were on the reverse — check near the bottom on wheat-cent-era coinage and inside the wreath on older silver. If there's no letter at all, it's almost always Philadelphia.

Mint Marks That Pay: Quick Hits

1909-S VDB cent ($700+), 1914-D cent ($200+), 1916-D Mercury dime($1,000+ even worn), 1932-D and 1932-S quarters ($100+), any CC Morgan dollar, and the modern 2019-W quarters pulled from change. There are also error coins where the mark is the error — the 1922 "No D" cent and the 1982 No-P Roosevelt dime both command serious premiums.

Not sure what you're looking at? Photograph the coin and our AI reads the date, mint mark, and variety for you — then estimates the grade and value. It's free to try.

Identify Your Coin Free →

Keep Going

Found something with a promising mint mark? Check the most valuable pennies list, then learn how grading determines the price before you sell anything.