| Author |
 Replies: 24 / Views: 3,366 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
595 Posts |
I can't find where this was discussed here before, so forgive me if it's been asked and answered. I've been wondering why the mint decided to start putting the P on coins starting in 1979 and 1980 when it had gotten along forever (except for the War Nickels) with no mint mark. Anybody know what the thinking was behind this? Thanks for listening.  Jan |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
The P mint mark still does not appear on the Lincoln Cent and thats because some of the lincoln cents are struck at west point for the philly mint . mint marks are for the specific purpose of accounting ,, I think with the larger production numbers of the coins they had to institute a better more accurate count for each mint . Metalman |
|
Valued Member
United States
328 Posts |
Why did Philly have no mintmark on most coins? Is this to avoid confusion with the Denver mintmark due to them being very small? The only *modern* coins with a P for Philly are Roosevelt dimes and Presidential dollars. |
|
Moderator
 United States
187582 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
595 Posts |
In other words, nobody knows? It is just as easy to differentiate between something and nothing -- accounting for Philadelphia's output would be the same whether you're counting P's and D's or counting D's and no mark. I understand why the Philadelphia mint did not need a mint mark before 1838 -- it was the only one. And again, the absence of mint mark was just as revealing as the presence of one. And I know why they put P's on the War Nickels. And I understand why they didn't put P's on Lincoln cents, and why they still don't, speaking of tradition. Given all of that -- WHY in 1979 (for Susie B's) and 1980 (for everything else except the cents) did they suddenly decide to give Philadelphia a mint mark? Mint director's whim? Does Congress get into the design details enough to prescribe something like that? Well, I'll continue my quest and let you know if I find anything out. Jan |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4867 Posts |
Then we should have "W" cents...
|
|
Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
I do not even think the Mint knows why... http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_min...n=mint_marksI get the feeling the Philadelphia mint marks were added because of the confusion and controversy of missing mint marks. Think about the missing mint marks we feel certain of, like the 1922 "plain" LHC. Now consider how many coins out there might be missing mint marks, but we never give it a second thought since there were coins minted in Philadelphia that year without the mint mark. Since the mint mark is added much earlier in the process now, it probably makes sense that there should be a mark for each Mint. |
|
Valued Member
United States
473 Posts |
 Though I'm sure that is what the mint had in mind (did the mint like collectors at this point?) but it sure does help us out! I've often wondered how many D or S mint marks somehow got rubbed of and we go on believing they are Philly coins. Think of all the pennies you might have in the slot in your book.... --Gary |
|
Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Quote:
Think of all the pennies you might have in the slot in your book.... I used to think about that. Maybe too much. But I got over it. Eventually. Interesting story... many years ago, when I was filling my Eisenhower dollar album, I somehow managed to slip a 1976 Philadelphia Variety I into the Denver spot (I started it when I was a lot younger, so anything is possible). I did not catch it until just before I bought the last two coins. I bought the proper one when I finished the album. That "bogus" coin now lives in one the four extra slots on the last page of the album. I chuckle every time I look at it! For the longest time, I just never noticed the missing mint mark! Since then, I probably spend more time making sure everything is what it is supposed to be than I do filling the next hole. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Is it possible that people in Philadelphia never knew how to spell that so to play safe they left off the P? Isn't it pronounced Filadelfia? So instead of an F of P or Ph, they decided to leave it off altogether. Then there is the possibility that since a P could look like a T or F and many other letters, no letter would be easier. Of course no letter would save the Mint on having to hire someone to design the different possible P's.   In reality I wonder what would happen if someone called the Mint and asked them? Now this post has made me wonder so I too will start investigating. And exactly why they are now appearing on all coins except the cent? Not proud of the cost of making a cent possible? |
|
Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
just carl, you kill me! |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Ok ,,so maybe if you can answerthis question then the answer to the other one will be easier to accept . what are the D,S and W and on earlier US coins the O and the CC mint marks for ? the P is for the same purpose . Metalman |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
595 Posts |
I didn't think the question was that obtuse, but let me try this one more time. The question is not what the P or any other mint mark is for. The question is WHY did they suddenly decide to put a P mint mark on Philadelphia-produced coins after 186 years of getting along just fine without one? Not counting War Nickels, and yes, I do know why they had P mint marks. Jan |
|
Valued Member
United States
263 Posts |
Maybe this will shed some light on this subject: (From Wikiepedia Re: US Mint) "Due to a shortage of nickel during World War II, the composition of the five-cent coin was changed to include silver. To mark this change, nickels minted in Philadelphia (which had featured no mint marks until then) displayed a P in the field above the dome of Monticello. Nickels from San Francisco were minted in the same fashion, and Denver nickels reflected the change in 1943. This new mint mark location continued until 1946, when the nickel returned to its pre-war composition." The P mint mark, discontinued after the war, reappeared in 1979 on the Anthony dollar. By 1982, it had appeared on every other regular-issue coin except the cent, which still bears no P mint mark. The circulating cents struck in the 1980s at San Francisco (except proofs) and West Point also bear no mint mark, as their facilities were used to supplement Philadelphia's production. Given the limited numbers produced at each facility, they might have been hoarded as collectibles." So....it seems that all LHC coins with no mint mark are not from the Philly mint! Another victory for the Mint in the short war with the collector. afernbaugh |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4867 Posts |
Taking this in a slightly different direction here. Canada's mint marks aren't what they seem and don't always refer to where they were produced. no mint mark = Ottawa "W" = Winnipeg "P" = Plated And now the RCM has their logo on coins now too. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
This question is always going to come back to why mint marks are on the coins .
Why Mint Marks?
Mint marks date from the days of ancient Greece and Rome. The practice was inaugurated in the United States by an Act of March 3, 1835, which established the first branch mints in this country. This Act provided that the Director of the Mint prescribe regulations for identifying the coins stamped at each institution, thus assuring central control of all coinage so that production from the different branches of the establishment should be exactly standard. The use of a mint mark on branch Mint coins also insured recognition of the Mint of issue when received in circulation or returned to the Mint. Thus responsibility for the coinage was established. Currently, all circulating coinage produced at the Philadelphia Mint has a "P" mint mark except for the one-cent coin, or "penny."
you see the question you asked and the reason for mint marks are inseperable ,,the P was added to the coins for the same reason thst other coins from other mints bear mint marks .
Accounting !
|
| |
Replies: 24 / Views: 3,366 |
Posted 03/03/2008 11:57 am
