What is a mint mark on a penny?

A <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Mint%20Mark">mint mark</a> on a penny is a small letter (or letters) that indicates which United States Mint produced the coin. Here's some key information:

• Location: Mint marks are usually found on the obverse (front) of the coin, typically beneath the portrait of Abraham Lincoln. The location has varied over time.

• Common Mint Marks:

  • P: Philadelphia Mint (generally not used on pennies until 2017, except for a brief period in the 1940s due to a wartime metal shortage)
  • D: Denver Mint
  • S: San Francisco Mint (primarily used on proof coins, and occasionally on circulation strikes)
  • W: West Point Mint (occasionally used for special releases)

• No Mint Mark: Coins without a mint mark were generally produced at the Philadelphia Mint. Before 2017, Philadelphia-minted pennies generally did not display a mint mark.

• Significance: Mint marks can affect a penny's value. Some mint marks are more scarce than others, making those coins more valuable to collectors. Also, errors involving <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Mint%20Mark">mint marks</a> (such as doubled mint marks or missing mint marks) can significantly increase a coin's worth.