What do mint marks like D, S, and P mean?
U.S. Mint Marks
The letters D, S, and P are among the most common U.S. mint marks. 'D' indicates the Denver Mint, which opened in 1906. 'S' stands for the San Francisco Mint, established in 1854. 'P' represents the Philadelphia Mint, the oldest U.S. mint, though it didn't use a 'P' mark on most circulating coins until 1980 (except for wartime nickels).
Other historical marks include 'O' for New Orleans (1838-1909), 'CC' for Carson City (1870-1893), 'W' for West Point (1984-present for some coins), and 'C' for Charlotte (1838-1861, gold coins only).
Other Countries
Other nations use different letters. Canada uses 'C' for Ottawa and 'W' for Winnipeg on some coins. Australia uses 'M' for Melbourne, 'S' for Sydney, and 'P' for Perth. The United Kingdom has used 'B' for Birmingham and 'L' for London, among others.
Always check a reliable coin guide for the specific country and era, as mint marks can change over time and some letters may have multiple meanings.
- P – Philadelphia
- D – Denver
- S – San Francisco
- O – New Orleans
- CC – Carson City
- W – West Point
Common mistakes
- Assuming 'D' always means Denver; on some foreign coins, it may indicate a different mint.
- Thinking 'P' is rare; it's common on modern Philadelphia coins but scarce on older ones.
- Confusing 'S' for San Francisco with 'S' for Sydney on Australian coins.
