The Difference Between Mint Marks and Privy Marks

If you hang around the coin-collecting world for any length of time, you’ll hear discussions about the various marks that coins may have on their surfaces. Some of them are straightforward, but you may hear references to two different types of marks that seem quite similar.

Those two types of marks are mint marks and privy marks. They may seem a bit indistinguishable, as they are both small indications on the surface of the coin.

However, they are two distinct types of figures on coins. So, let’s discuss what each of them are, their differences, and why you should know the differences between mint marks and privy marks.

What Is a Mint Mark?

Let’s talk about mint marks first. A mint mark is a letter, symbol, or other marking that identifies the mint within the country that issued the exact coin.

The primary difference between mint marks and privy marks is that mint marks are used to identify a coin’s production facility. Privy marks are more often used today as commemorative symbols or program-specific identifiers, though they originally began centuries ago as anti-counterfeiting or administrative control marks. A well-known modern example is the “V75” privy mark on select 2020 U.S. coins honoring the 75th anniversary of World War II.

The mint mark helps verify the coin’s origin and authenticity. More specifically and obviously, it helps the users of the coin—be they consumers or collectors—trace the coin’s production location.

For example, there are four mint marks that you are most likely to encounter when you trade in American coinage:

• Philadelphia (P)
• Denver (D)
• San Francisco (S)
• West Point (W)

Please note, however, that Philadelphia historically produced many coins without any mint mark. Since 1980, most denominations struck in Philadelphia include a “P,” but the U.S. cent still typically has no mintmark—so a “blank” coin is usually from Philadelphia, though there are date- and issue-specific exceptions.

Now, there are also some other mint marks that you may find on your American coins. If you do happen to find an American coin sporting a CC or O, you should take care of it.

These coins are the products of mint locations that have since closed—namely, Carson City and New Orleans. There were two other past locations at Charlotte and Dahlonega, Georgia, but all of their coinage is gold.

The Charlotte coins have the C mintmark, and Dahlonega coins have a D, but the “D” from Dahlonega is identical in appearance to Denver’s “D.” They are distinguished by year, since Dahlonega operated from 1838–1861, long before the Denver Mint opened in 1906.

What Is a Privy Mark?

A privy mark is a small symbol, motif, or letter that appears on a coin’s obverse or reverse that is distinct from other types of markings, including a mint mark. It may appear alone on a coin, but privy marks are often joined by mint marks.

Historically, privy marks served as security devices or administrative control symbols. Today, however, they are used primarily to denote that a coin is a special issue—often commemorative, program-specific, or part of a limited-edition release.

Another major difference between privy marks and mint marks is that mint marks answer the question of “where” when it comes to a coin. Privy marks, on the other hand, answer the questions of “what kind” or “what version.”

Key Differences (Brief Comparison)

Now, all those words written above tell the story about the differences between mint marks and privy marks, but many of us understand things better when we can see them. So, here is a summary of the key differences between the two—crystallized into a helpful table:

*Mint marks from past mints or from mints that didn’t regularly produce certain coins may prove more valuable.

Why It Matters When Buying or Collecting

Hopefully, it now makes sense about the difference between mint marks and privy marks. Both are important to collectors, but for different reasons.

Mint marks matter because they are one of the best ways to get started with a coin. Identifying the mint location of a coin is usually the first step toward collectibility. Furthermore, you can use your knowledge of the appropriate mint marks for types of coins in order to sniff out scams, counterfeits, or—rarely—extremely rare and valuable coins. If you know that a coin is from the “wrong” place, you won’t simply take it on faith that you’re buying the right item.

Privy marks can also mean value but understand that they are not hidden from view. So, expect to pay for both the metal content of a privy-marked coin and its value as a collector’s item.

Get in Touch

No matter what mark you want on your collected coins, JM Bullion is here to help. Obviously, we have coins with mint marks, and we rest our reputation on all of them being authentic and from the correct locations.

However, we also have a number of privy coins, too. So, if you want to check out what we have, take a look at our listings. If you still have questions about privy marks, don’t hesitate to reach out to us Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM Central. Call 800-276-6508 to speak with one of our helpful, knowledgeable counselors about all things precious metals.