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. Philadelphia Mint Marks Philadelphia was the only mint in operation in those earliest years, and identification of the coinage was not necessary. The practice was continued even after the branch mints were established. In 1942, however, when World War II restrictions upon the use of metal made a change in the 5-cent piece necessary, a substi
