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Where is the mint mark? U.S. coins by type
Mint-mark locations for U.S. cents through dollars: Lincoln under the date, Buffalo under FIVE CENTS, Mercury right of ONE, Peace at the eagle’s wing tip, Morgan under the eagle, and more.
A mint mark is a small letter that tells you which U.S. Mint struck the coin. Many coins have no mint mark because for a long time Philadelphia was the only mint — and Philadelphia often left coins unmarked.
This page is a location field guide for common U.S. types people pull from jars and estates. Diagrams use real coin photos where possible. Always confirm on the piece in hand with good light and a loupe. Finding a letter does not make a coin rare — see old is not rare.
Mint letters (what they mean)
- No mark — usually Philadelphia (1793–date on many series)
- P — Philadelphia (wartime nickels; many modern non-copper issues from 1982 on)
- D — Denver (1906–present on circulating coinage). Note: early gold also used D for Dahlonega, Georgia (1838–1861 gold only)
- S — San Francisco (1854–date)
- O — New Orleans (1838–1909 era issues)
- CC — Carson City (1870–1893)
- C — Charlotte (early gold only, 1838–1861)
- W — West Point (mostly special / collector issues)
If a series is not listed below, it was often Philadelphia-only and has no mint mark.
Cents
Half cents, large cents, Flying Eagle cents
No mint mark — all struck at Philadelphia.
Indian Head cents
1908–1909 only (S when present): reverse, under the wreath. Other years: Philadelphia, no mark.
Lincoln cents
Obverse, under the date. D or S when present; no letter = Philadelphia on classic issues. Pull list: wheat cent key dates.
Two-cent, three-cent, nickels
Two-cent / nickel three-cent / Shield nickels
No mint mark — Philadelphia only.
Silver three-cent (trime)
1851 only can show O (New Orleans) on the reverse, to the right of the “C”.
Liberty Head (“V”) nickels
Most years: Philadelphia, no mark. 1912 only can show D or S on the reverse, to the left of the word CENTS.
Buffalo (Indian Head) nickels
Reverse, under the words FIVE CENTS. D or S when present; no letter = Philadelphia. Pull list: Buffalo key dates.
Jefferson nickels
- 1938–1964 (except wartime style): reverse, to the right of Monticello
- War years 1942–1945 (silver alloy): reverse, large mint mark above the dome of Monticello (P, D, or S)
- 1968–2004: obverse, near the date
- 2005: obverse, below LIBERTY
- 2006–present: obverse, below LIBERTY and the date
Dimes
Half dimes
Reverse: just below or within the wreath.
Bust dimes
No mint mark — Philadelphia only.
Seated Liberty dimes
Reverse: just below or within the wreath.
Barber dimes
Reverse: near the rim at the center bottom of the coin.
Mercury (Winged Liberty) dimes
- Side: reverse only
- Spot: bottom left of the reverse, to the right of the word ONE (left of the bottom of the fasces)
- Letters: D or S; no letter = Philadelphia
Roosevelt dimes
- 1946–1964: reverse, near the bottom left of the torch
- 1968–present: obverse, above the date
Twenty cents & quarters
Twenty-cent pieces
Reverse: under the eagle.
Bust quarters
No mint mark — Philadelphia only.
Seated Liberty / Barber quarters
Reverse: under the eagle and above QUARTER DOLLAR.
Standing Liberty quarters
Obverse: above and just to the left of the date.
Washington quarters (including State quarters)
- 1932–1964: reverse, in the center under the eagle
- 1968–present: obverse, to the right of the hair ribbon
Half dollars
Bust halves
Mint marks only on certain Reeded Edge pieces: 1838-O and 1839-O — obverse, above the date.
Seated Liberty / Barber halves
Reverse: just below the eagle and above HALF DOLLAR.
Walking Liberty halves
- 1916 and some 1917: obverse, just below the word TRUST
- 1917–1947: reverse, lower left, just below the branch (near the rim)
Franklin halves
Reverse: centered above the beam of the Liberty Bell.
Kennedy halves
- 1964: reverse, left of the olive branch near the claw
- 1968–present: obverse, centered above the date near the neck
Dollars
Flowing Hair / Draped Bust dollars
No mint mark — Philadelphia only.
Seated Liberty / Trade dollars
Reverse: under the eagle. Trade dollars may show CC or S.
Morgan dollars
Reverse, under the eagle (below the wreath assembly / above ONE DOLLAR). Letters: CC, O, S, D, or none (Philadelphia). Pull list: Morgan key dates.
Peace dollars
Reverse, on the left side — on the left side of the reverse — left of the eagle’s tail feathers (under ONE; see close-up). Not the bottom rim / “lower left corner.”. D or S when present; no letter = Philadelphia. This is not the same spot as a Morgan dollar.
Eisenhower dollars
Obverse: under the bust.
Susan B. Anthony dollars
Obverse: to the left of the bust (mint mark almost always present).
Sacagawea dollars
Obverse: under the date.
Presidential dollars
On the edge of the coin next to the date (not on the portrait face).
How to use this without inventing a letter
- Identify the coin type first (Morgan vs Peace, Buffalo vs Jefferson, etc.)
- Write date + mint on paper before searching online
- If you cannot read the mark, do not invent a D or S from dirt
- Keys still need condition — use pull lists for wheats, Buffalos, Morgans
The coin in hand is the authority. This page is a sorting aid, not a price guide.