| Mint Marks are tiny letters referring to the | | | | cutting round blanks, approximately the |
| locality where the minting of coins took | | | | dimension of the done coin. |
| place. The position of mint mark can be found | | | | |
| typically on the back side of coins that were | | | | 3. The blanks then are softened by running |
| minted before the year 1965 and on the front | | | | them through an annealing furnace, through |
| after the year 1967. | | | | tumbling barrels, and then through revolving |
| | | | cylinders containing chemical mixtures to |
| Coins of every US mint branch are recognized | | | | burnish and clean the metal. |
| by mint marks. These coin marks date back to | | | | |
| ancient times in Rome and Greece. | | | | 4. The blanks then are washed and placed |
| | | | into a drying device, then into the upsetting |
| The Director of the Mint, through the Act of | | | | machines, that produce the raised rim. |
| March 3, 1835, set rules to classify and | | | | |
| distinguish the coins released from every US | | | | 5. The Final stage: coining press. Each |
| Mint branch. This core management set | | | | blank is clasp into position by a collar or |
| accurate standards and pattern of production | | | | ring as it is being struck or hit under great |
| as well as responsible coinage. | | | | pressure. Pennies need approximately 40 tons |
| | | | of pressure and the larger coins need more. |
| Coins that minted at the Philadelphia mint | | | | The upper and lower dies are stamped |
| earlier than the year 1979 have no mint | | | | simultaneously on the two sides of each coin. |
| marks. So it was in that year that the dollar | | | | |
| was marked with the letter P and other | | | | The design: |
| denominations had that same mark thereafter. | | | | |
| | | | The Director of the Mint chooses the design |
| All dies for US coins are produced at the | | | | and pattern for United States coins, then |
| Philadelphia Mint and prior to shipping the | | | | that is approved by the Secretary of the |
| coins to their mint branch, coins are marked | | | | Treasury; congress can recommend and suggest |
| first with the correct and designated mint | | | | a design. The design then can not be changed |
| markings. The precise size and positioning of | | | | for twenty five years unless directed by the |
| the coins mint mark can slightly vary; this | | | | congress. |
| is influenced by how deep the punch was | | | | |
| impressed and where. | | | | All emblems of United States coins minted |
| | | | currently represent previous presidents of |
| The importance of mint marks: | | | | the United States. President Lincoln is on |
| | | | the one-cent coin, adopted in the year 1909; |
| Collectors can determine the value of a coin | | | | Washington on the 25 cent coin that was |
| though mint mark, date and condition | | | | minted first in 1932; Jefferson on the five |
| examination, making the coins condition the | | | | cent coin in 1938; Franklin Roosevelt on the |
| most significant factor and standard when | | | | dime, introduced in the year 1946; Kennedy on |
| determining its value. | | | | the half dollar that was first minted in |
| | | | 1964. |
| Defining the Mint which hit the coin is | | | | |
| tremendously important in determining the | | | | The Act of 1997 known as the 50 States |
| value of the coin; the coin can be hit in | | | | Quarters Program supports and allows the |
| huge quantities at a single Mint or in | | | | redesigning of the quarters - the reverse |
| smaller quantities in another hit. | | | | side is to show each of the fifty states |
| | | | emblems. Every year starting in 1999 and |
| The process of minting: | | | | until 2008, coins honoring five states, |
| | | | having designs that are created by each |
| 1. The making of metal strips in the correct | | | | state, will be issued in the sequence or |
| thickness: Zinc strips are used for pennies, | | | | manner in which each state signed the |
| alloy strips composed of nickel (25%) and | | | | Constitution. |
| nickel (75%) for nickel and dollars, | | | | |
| half-dollars, dimes, half-dimes are | | | | The phrase In God We Trust was used first in |
| fabricated from a fusion of three coatings of | | | | 1864, on a United States two-cent coin. It |
| metals; the external layer are alloys and the | | | | then was seen on the quarter, nickel, |
| center is copper. | | | | half-dollar, silver dollar and on the $10, $5 |
| | | | and $20 in 1866; in 1909 on the penny, in |
| 2. These strips of metals are then put into | | | | 1916 on the dime. Today, all United States |
| blanking presses that are responsible for | | | | coins carry the motto. |