Where is the mint mark on a penny? P, D, S and W

3 min read · Updated Oct 4, 2026

In short

On Lincoln cents since 1909, the mint mark is on the front below the date.
No letter usually means Philadelphia, with some exceptions.
Only 1908 and 1909 Indian Head cents carry a mint mark, on the back. Flying Eagle cents have none.

Before you start

A mint mark identifies the place of manufacture. It can distinguish a common issue from a scarce one, so this small letter deserves attention.

What the letters mean

D: Denver.
S: San Francisco. S-marked cents were made for circulation through 1955 and again in 1968–1974. Later S cents are mainly Proof collector issues. Proof describes a manufacturing process, not simply shine or a high condition grade.
P: Philadelphia. The 2017 cents carry it for the U.S. Mint's 225th anniversary.
W: West Point. It appears on the 2019 collector issues.
No letter: usually Philadelphia. However, San Francisco also struck unmarked circulating cents in the 1970s and 1980s. The absence of a letter cannot distinguish those from Philadelphia coins.

Lincoln cents since 1909

Look at the front just below the date. The letter is tiny: tilt the coin under a light or use a magnifier.

TipCirculating coins dated 1965, 1966 and 1967 have no mint marks. The legislative change sought to discourage collecting during the coin shortage. Marks returned in 1968.

A weak or missing letter may relate to the striking die. The famous 1922 No D Strong Reverse 1922 No D Strong Reverse requires several diagnostic features; an invisible D alone is insufficient. Counterfeiters also remove the D from ordinary 1922-D coins. Have a possible example examined professionally, for example by PCGS or NGC. For a modern cent with an apparently missing D, first look for very faint traces of the letter.

Indian Head cents, 1859–1909

Almost all came from Philadelphia without a mint mark. The exceptions are 1908-S 1908-S and 1909-S 1909-S. Their S is at the bottom of the back, below the wreath. Mintages were 1,115,000 and 309,000 respectively. The 1909-S has the lowest mintage among the series' regular circulation issues; mintage alone does not determine value.

Watch outAn S may have been added to a Philadelphia coin. Seek independent authentication of a possible 1909-S.

Flying Eagle cents, 1856–1858

These were struck in Philadelphia and have no mint mark. The 1856 issue is considered a pattern; the regular circulation dates are 1857 and 1858.

Read a tiny letter

Use soft light from the side.
Hold the magnifier at its working distance and carefully bring the coin into sharp focus.
Take a sharp photograph of the area, then enlarge it.
Compare position and shape with a reliable reference of the same date. A similar letter does not establish authenticity.

Open the mint-mark finder in the app

Questions

Where is the mint mark on a penny?

On Lincoln pennies (1909 to today) it is on the front, just below the date. On the 1908-S and 1909-S Indian Head pennies it is on the back, below the wreath. Flying Eagle pennies have none.

What does no mint mark on a penny mean?

Usually Philadelphia. Circulating pennies dated 1965, 1966 and 1967 have no mint mark at all, and San Francisco also struck unmarked circulating pennies in the 1970s and 1980s.

What do D, S, P and W mean on a penny?

D is Denver, S is San Francisco, P is Philadelphia (shown on 2017 pennies for the Mint's 225th anniversary) and W is West Point (on 2019 collector pennies).

Check yours

Open the mint-mark finder to locate the mark for your series.

Check your own penny

Penny Value is an Android app for now, so it isn't on the App Store. The values and checks on this page are free to use.Penny Value is an Android app. Open this page on your Android phone to check your own penny with a photo.

Coins in this guide

1922 No D Strong Reverse
Denver · Part of the 7,160,000 1922-D cents (struck with a worn or filled die that left no D); not counted separately.
Key date
$630worn
$4,800MS-60
1908-S
San Francisco · 1,115,000 made
Key date
$64.00worn
$350MS-60
1909-S
San Francisco · 309,000 made
Key date
$260worn
$1,000MS-60
2017-P
Philadelphia · 4.4 billion made
1¢worn
2019-W
West Point · 318,695 made
Collector issue
1857
Philadelphia · 17.5 million made
$220worn
$1,300MS-60

Related guides

Sources

U.S. Mint, “Mint Marks” (accessed 2026-10-04)
Wikipedia, “Lincoln cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
Wikipedia, “Indian Head cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
Wikipedia, “Flying Eagle cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
NGC, “Top 50 Most Commonly Counterfeited U.S. Coins” (accessed 2026-09-26)
PCGS, “The S-Mint Indian Cents” (accessed 2026-10-04)
U.S. Mint, “Penny” (accessed 2026-10-04)