What are 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.
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 United States 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 ensured recognition of the Mint of issue when received in circulation or returned to the United States Mint. Thus responsibility for the coinage was established. Read more about mint marks: March 3, 1835. The Act established the first branch Mint facilities and provided that the Mint Directors develop regulations identifying the coins minted at each facility, thus assuring central control of all coinage and ensuring recognition of the issuing facility when coins were place
