What Is a Mint Mark on a Coin?

A mint mark is a small letter (or occasionally a symbol) stamped on a coin to show which mint produced it. It’s one of the most important details for both identifying and valuing a coin.

Why mint marks matter

Different mints often strike different quantities of the same coin in the same year. A coin from a low-output mint can be many times scarcer — and more valuable — than the identical coin from a high-output mint.

Where to find the mint mark

The location varies by country and era:

• United States — near the date (obverse on modern coins, reverse on many older ones). P Philadelphia, D Denver, S San Francisco.
• Germany — a single letter: A Berlin, D Munich, F Stuttgart, G Karlsruhe, J Hamburg.
• Euro coins — a small letter on the national side for countries like Germany.

Reading a worn mint mark

Mint marks are small and wear down easily. Tilt the coin under a bright, angled light and use a magnifier. If you still can’t read it, a photo-based identifier like Numis can often pick it out for you.