"P" mint mark on cents?

Robert · Senior Member

Saw an article in Coin World suggesting the possibility of the Mint adding a "P" mint mark to cents.

What do you think of that? Good idea/bad idea/indifferent?

I kind of prefer the "blank" mint mark for Philadelphia. Looks cleaner, IMO.

But on the other hand, if a "P" mint mark becomes reality, the possibility for a "plain" cent is intriguing (like a 1922 "plain" cent).

eagames · Expert Member

That's funny since they also talk about stopping making cents.

Seems too late to be worth changing? Hmmmm Wink

GarryN · Expert Member

My opinion is that it would be a travesty if they put a P mint mark on cents.

Dick · Expert Member

It would be more than a "travesty", if they stopped making cents! I'd be up crap-street, without a paddle, because I couldn't afford to collect anything else.
Dick

Gabe · Senior Member

I think adding a P mintmark to the cent is a bad idea. I mean... what would the point be? Everyone that looks at coin mint marks knows that a coin lacking a mint mark is minted in the Philadelphia mint.

Most Philadelphia minted coins a hundred years ago did not have any mint mark. The P mintmark was added when significant composition changes were made to coins. Like the Silver war nickles, and the change from silver to clad in quarters and half dollars. What significant change is being made to the Lincoln cent that would require them to add a P mint mark?

It seems that it would just be more work for the mint...

coop · Expert Member

If they change during the same year, they will have P, D, S, and plain. So if they do it it would probably start at the beginning of the year. But in 1982 they didn't wait to the next year to make changes. Who knows what they will do. Its their call and not ours.

coppercoins · Site Admin

Makes no difference to me at all. Still no RPMs.

eagames · Expert Member

It would be a waste of effort for nothing.

I wonder how they justified putting edge lettering on dollars. They spent millions of $ on edge lettering machines then on damage control when coins escaped without them. It's like a person in debt spending money on something not needed instead of getting something needed.

They did it on coins with mid year design changes so it didn't have any added value. They could have put IGWT & dates & MM on the obv. If they used ege dates on coins where the design didn't change each year they could have mass produced dies and the date changed only on the edge.

I wouldn't put it past them to add the P mintmarks even if it adds no value. Then we can hope a few escape without the P, that would be the best outcome. Wink

Dick · Expert Member

I don't think it would be very nice, if "Philly" started putting a MM on the cents. I have enough trouble just deciphering the few tha are there! Naturally, I am prejudiced, because of a vision problem, ( which is of no concern to the general populace, nor should it be), but from the standpoint of coin collecting, it does have a detrimental effect. I am unable to "pinpoint my focus, because there just isn't anything to focus on.
Having said that, I see no reason to put a MM on the cent, because after all the changes made in 1981, for the 1982, and forthcoming mintage of cents, and then keep the same style, (no MM). Of course the case with the "Presidenial dollar, they have already confirmed the absolute lack of creativity, by putting the things that we Americans hold as an integral part of our coinage, by placing the Motto, MM, and date on the edge, as though they were ashamed of any belief in our way of life! WE are GOD-fearing nation, that was actually based on our religious beliefs, and freedom of choice. These coins have reduced the respect for the "almighty Dollar" to a silly idea from a bunch of dolts, with nothing to do! If the coinage they are producing now, is an indication of what this nation is going to be, in the years to come, maybe it is time to dig out the books on foreign languages, and try to guess which one we will HAVE TO LEARN! Take your choice: Spanish, or ARABIC! Please excuse my tirade of senceless babbling. I am not my usual, silly self, what with my vision being reduced to seeing all around, but at the same time, not being able to see things directly in front of me. Ever try to check a variety, "out of the corner of you eye"??? Any hobbies where all one has to do is "feel"? Don't answer that! Someone might get some ideas!
Dick

carlb · Advanced Member

Contrary to everyone's negative statements, look at it this way. There could be millions of coins that are blank in that spot and everyone thinks they are P coins. What if they were all D's but the D didn't make it? Look at all the fuss over a Dime without the S. How about SC for SanFran, Cal. and DC for Denver, Co? Better yet, all coins no Mint mark Laughing

I like it the way it is.

coop · Expert Member

They eliminated the mint mark on 1965-1967 coins to slow down the haording by collectors after the run on silver post 1964. They tried to catch up on circulation. But I don't remember any real shortage of coins those years.