Mint Marks and control markings Present Day Back to Yester - Year by: Chip Scoppa

Mint MarksMint Marksand control markingsand control markings

Present DayPresent Day

Back to Yester - YearBack to Yester - Yearby: Chip Scoppaby: Chip Scoppa

Mint MarksMint Marks

Present Day USPresent Day US

P or (without any mark) - PhiladelphiaP or (without any mark) - Philadelphia D - DenverD - Denver S - San FranciscoS - San Francisco W - West PointW - West Point

Present Day USPresent Day US

P or (without any mark) - PhiladelphiaP or (without any mark) - Philadelphia D - DenverD - Denver S - San FranciscoS - San Francisco W - West PointW - West Point

**Did you know you maybe carrying a **Did you know you maybe carrying a coin minted at West Point in your coin minted at West Point in your pocket or purse and not know it?**pocket or purse and not know it?**

US Mints not producing todayUS Mints not producing today

C - C - Charlotte, N.C. (gold coins Charlotte, N.C. (gold coins only)1838-1861only)1838-1861

D - D - Dahlonega, Ga. (gold coins Dahlonega, Ga. (gold coins only)1838-1861only)1838-1861

O - O - New Orleans, La. 1838-1861; New Orleans, La. 1838-1861; 1879-19091879-1909

CC - CC - Carson City, Nev. 1870-1893Carson City, Nev. 1870-1893

The effect of WAR on USThe effect of WAR on US Mint Marks Mint Marks

1.1. Loss of marksLoss of marks C, D & O were stopped in 1861 (Civil C, D & O were stopped in 1861 (Civil

War)War) O was the only one reused starting in O was the only one reused starting in

1879 after reconstruction to 1909.1879 after reconstruction to 1909.

2.2. Addition of marksAddition of marks 1942 to 45 (WW II) first use of the P 1942 to 45 (WW II) first use of the P

for Philadelphia and not reused until for Philadelphia and not reused until 19791979

The effect of WAR on USThe effect of WAR on US Coins Coins

World War II – to save the metal nickel for tank World War II – to save the metal nickel for tank armor “Silver” (35%) nickels were introduced in armor “Silver” (35%) nickels were introduced in 1942 and remained until 1945. The mint mark 1942 and remained until 1945. The mint mark was moved to over the dome of Monticello to was moved to over the dome of Monticello to denote a different coin was in circulationdenote a different coin was in circulation

One year later in 1943 the penny was struck with One year later in 1943 the penny was struck with zinc plated steel planchets to save copper, but in zinc plated steel planchets to save copper, but in 1944 the “steel” penny was changed back to a 1944 the “steel” penny was changed back to a copper based one. These “copper” cents were copper based one. These “copper” cents were made from spent ammo casings until 1947 when made from spent ammo casings until 1947 when the pre-war composition was reintroduced.the pre-war composition was reintroduced.

FIRST “P” put on a US coinFIRST “P” put on a US coin

Canadian Canadian

Prior to 1908 Prior to 1908 nonenone Royal British Mint Royal British Mint at London and at London and HH for the Heaton Mint for the Heaton Mint in Birminghamin Birmingham

1908 Ottawa (none like Philadelphia)1908 Ottawa (none like Philadelphia) 1947 “Maple Leaf” date mark for 1947 “Maple Leaf” date mark for

coins struck in 1948, but using 1947 coins struck in 1948, but using 1947 diesdies

1998 - 1998 - WW from Winnipeg from Winnipeg 2000 - 2000 - PP for “plated” steel coins for “plated” steel coins

MexicoMexico

Mo – Mexico CityMo – Mexico City

Post Diocletian ReformPost Diocletian Reform

Most mints have Most mints have distinctive mint distinctive mint markingsmarkings

Campgate type Campgate type coins from the time coins from the time of Constantine the of Constantine the Great and his sons Great and his sons are among some of are among some of thesethese

There are 15 known There are 15 known mints for this type mints for this type of coin of coin

Mints for Campgate coinsMints for Campgate coins

AlexandriaAlexandria AntiochAntioch ArelateArelate ConstantinopleConstantinople CyzicusCyzicus HeracleaHeraclea LondonLondon LyonsLyons

NicomediaNicomedia RomeRome SirmiumSirmium SisciaSiscia ThessalonicaThessalonica TicinumTicinum TreveriTreveri

AlexandriaAlexandria

SMALASMALA SMALSMAL SMAL with a dotSMAL with a dot Sometimes with a Sometimes with a

wreath in left fieldwreath in left field Sometimes with Sometimes with

the officina mark in the officina mark in right fieldright field

CJSII-0723CJSII-0723

AntiochAntioch

ANTANT SMANSMAN SMANTSMANT With various With various

control markingscontrol markings With various With various

officinae marksofficinae marks CJSII-0687CJSII-0687

ArelateArelate

AA ARAR ARLARL CONCON CONSTCONST With various control With various control

markingsmarkings Known for 4 turrets Known for 4 turrets

& “Open Door” type& “Open Door” type CJSII-0660CJSII-0660

ConstantinopleConstantinople

CONSCONS With various With various

officinae marks in officinae marks in various placesvarious places

With various With various control markscontrol marks


CyzicusCyzicus

MKMK SMKSMK With various With various

officinae marksofficinae marks With various With various

control markingscontrol markings CJSII-0770CJSII-0770

HeracleaHeraclea

HT, MHT, SMHHT, MHT, SMH With various officinae With various officinae

marks & control marks & control markingsmarkings

Early series (316) alsoEarly series (316) also Star became a fixture Star became a fixture

after 324 control markafter 324 control mark Known for 3 Turret Known for 3 Turret

designdesign CJSII-0805CJSII-0805

LondonLondon

PLONPLON Very few Very few

campgates struck campgates struck herehere


LyonsLyons

LGLG LVGLVG Again very few of Again very few of

this type of coin this type of coin was struck at this was struck at this mintmint


NicomediaNicomedia

MN, N, SMNMN, N, SMN With various With various

officinae marksofficinae marks With various With various

control markingscontrol markings Only mint to use Only mint to use

the “dot” in place the “dot” in place of last S in the of last S in the reverse legend reverse legend PROVIDENTIAECAESSPROVIDENTIAECAESS


RomeRome

R, RB, RFR, RB, RF With various With various

officinae marks & officinae marks & control markingscontrol markings

2, 3 & 4 turret 2, 3 & 4 turret designdesign

No door, closed door No door, closed door & open ones& open ones

Early 300 and 320’sEarly 300 and 320’s CJSII-0871CJSII-0871

SirmiumSirmium

SIRMSIRM Only one issue Only one issue

struck in this stylestruck in this style Coin of Constantius Coin of Constantius

IIII RIC 53RIC 53 Struck in 324 -325Struck in 324 -325 Using the Star Using the Star

above the 2 turretsabove the 2 turrets CJSII-0918CJSII-0918

SisciaSiscia

SIS, SISCSIS, SISC With various officinae With various officinae

marks and control marks and control markingsmarkings

RIC 214, 216 & 217 are RIC 214, 216 & 217 are among the easiest to among the easiest to findfind


ThessalonicaThessalonica SMTSSMTS TESTES With various With various

officina markingsofficina markings Again one of the Again one of the

easiest mints in the easiest mints in the series to findseries to find


TreveriTreveri

TRTR TRETRE With various With various

officina marksofficina marks Not the hardest, Not the hardest,

but difficult to find but difficult to find coins of this style coins of this style from this mint.from this mint.


Coins that were struck from One Coins that were struck from One Mint I don’t own examples of (yet)Mint I don’t own examples of (yet)

Ticinum – TTicinum – T Very few coins Very few coins

struck in this style struck in this style at this mintat this mint

Three groupings Three groupings from 325 to 327from 325 to 327

Also used a Also used a crescent as a crescent as a control markcontrol mark

Constantine II & Constantine II & Constantius IIConstantius II

Roman Coinage Prior to the Roman Coinage Prior to the Diocletian Reform (mid 290’s)Diocletian Reform (mid 290’s)

Different from coins Different from coins struck after the struck after the Reform in so much Reform in so much as the mint city was as the mint city was not spelled out in not spelled out in detail on the before detail on the before issues.issues.

Legend, style, Legend, style, placement of marks placement of marks are important to are important to attribute the mintattribute the mint


Coded Coins prior to theCoded Coins prior to theDiocletian ReformDiocletian Reform

Probus – code word AEQVITI, AEQVIT or Probus – code word AEQVITI, AEQVIT or EQVITI struck in 280, 281 & 282 at two EQVITI struck in 280, 281 & 282 at two mints Rome and Ticinummints Rome and Ticinum

Diocletian – code word IOBI (Jupiter) Diocletian – code word IOBI (Jupiter) struck at a single mint Siscia in 289 & struck at a single mint Siscia in 289 & 290290

Maximian – code word HPKOYMaximian – code word HPKOYI I (Hercules) struck at a single mint Siscia (Hercules) struck at a single mint Siscia in 289 & 290 as a companion to in 289 & 290 as a companion to Diocletian’sDiocletian’s

PROBUS – 280CEPROBUS – 280CE

TicinumTicinum P – Prima (First)P – Prima (First) The E of EQVITIThe E of EQVITI CONCORDMILITCONCORDMILIT Concordia holding Concordia holding

two standardstwo standards RIC vol V part ii RIC vol V part ii

480480 CJSII-0378CJSII-0378


TicinumTicinum S – Secunda S – Secunda

(Second)(Second) The Q of EQVITIThe Q of EQVITI PROVIDENTAVGPROVIDENTAVG Providentia holding Providentia holding

a globe & sceptrea globe & sceptre RIC vol V part ii 491RIC vol V part ii 491 CJSII-0300CJSII-0300


TicinumTicinum T – Tertia (Third)T – Tertia (Third) The V of EQVITIThe V of EQVITI SALVSAVGSALVSAVG Salus feeding Salus feeding

serpent in armsserpent in arms RIC vol V part ii RIC vol V part ii

499499 CJSII-0297CJSII-0297


TicinumTicinum Q – Quarta (Fourth)Q – Quarta (Fourth) The (1The (1stst) I of EQVITI) I of EQVITI MARTIPACIFMARTIPACIF Mars holding olive-Mars holding olive-

branch spear and branch spear and shieldshield

RIC vol V part ii 508RIC vol V part ii 508 CJSII-0306CJSII-0306


TicinumTicinum V – Quinta (Fifth)V – Quinta (Fifth) The T of EQVITIThe T of EQVITI PAXAVGVSTIPAXAVGVSTI Pax holding olive-Pax holding olive-

branch sceptre branch sceptre RIC vol V part ii RIC vol V part ii

516516 CJSII-0301CJSII-0301


TicinumTicinum VI – Sexta (sixth)VI – Sexta (sixth) The (2The (2ndnd) I of EQVITI) I of EQVITI SECVRITPREPSECVRITPREP Securitas leaning Securitas leaning

on a column & arm on a column & arm raisedraised



Rome - RAARome - RAA A – Alpha (First)A – Alpha (First) The A of AEQVITIThe A of AEQVITI VICTORIAGERMVICTORIAGERM Trophy between Trophy between

two captivestwo captives RIC vol V part ii RIC vol V part ii

223223 CJSII-0298CJSII-0298


Rome - REBRome - REB B – Beta (Second)B – Beta (Second) The E of AEQVITIThe E of AEQVITI IOVICONSPROBAVGIOVICONSPROBAVG Jupiter holding Jupiter holding

thunderbolt & thunderbolt & sceptresceptre



Rome - RQRome - RQ – – Gamma (Third)Gamma (Third) The Q of AEQVITIThe Q of AEQVITI MARTIPACIFMARTIPACIF Mars holding olive-Mars holding olive-

branch spear and branch spear and shieldshield



Rome - RVRome - RV – – Delta (Fourth)Delta (Fourth) The V of AEQVITIThe V of AEQVITI ROMAEAETERROMAEAETER Roma seated in a Roma seated in a

temple holding temple holding Victory and sceptreVictory and sceptre



Rome - RIERome - RIE – – Epsilon (Fifth)Epsilon (Fifth) The (1The (1stst) I of AEQVITI) I of AEQVITI FIDESMILITVMFIDESMILITVM Fides holding two Fides holding two

ensignsensigns RIC vol V part ii 170RIC vol V part ii 170 CJSII-0302CJSII-0302


Rome - RTRome - RT – – Stigma (sixth)Stigma (sixth) The T of AEQVITIThe T of AEQVITI PROVIDENTAVGPROVIDENTAVG Providentia holding Providentia holding

a globe & sceptrea globe & sceptre RIC vol V part ii RIC vol V part ii

181181 CJSII-0360CJSII-0360


Rome - RIZRome - RIZ – – Zeta (seventh)Zeta (seventh) The (2The (2ndnd) I of ) I of

AEQVITIAEQVITI AETERNITASAVGAETERNITASAVG Sol holding a globe Sol holding a globe

& raising hand& raising hand RIC vol V part ii 168RIC vol V part ii 168 CJSII-0353CJSII-0353

The four positions of the The four positions of the OfficinaOfficina

CJSII-0681

CJSII-0416

CJSII-0889

CJSII-0794

Mint MarksMint Marks

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Mint Marks and control markings Present Day Back to Yester - Year by: Chip Scoppa