In 1968 the Denver mint began putting it's mintmark on the obverse of the Washington quarter just right of the ribbon. That said , the Philadelphia mint did not start putting it's (P) mintmark until 1980 on the quarter, can anyone tell me why the Philadelphia mint waited till 1980 to do this ? Bruce.
There was no need for mintmarks when the US had only one Mint in Philadelphia. Every coin made was minted at the Philly Mint then. When the Branch Mints opened in 1838 in Charlotte, Dahlonega and New Orleans they each added their mintmarks to the coins they minted. Other mints (San Francisco, Carson City, Denver, West Point) used their minrmarks as they came on board. Philadelphia did not use a mintmark because it was the main mint and the absense of a mintmark indicated a coin was minted in Philadelphia. That has all changed now and even Philadelphia uses a mintmark. I liked things as they were. I see no reason for coins minted in Philadelphia to carry a mintmark. But that genie is out of the bottle now.
What's so special about 1968? Sure, the Branch Mints (Denver and San Francisco) resumed putting mintmarks on their coins that year after a 3-year hiatus but Philadelphia had never used a mintmark before so why should they all of a sudden start in 1968? (The above statement is not completely true. Philadelphia DID place a mintmark on War Nickels.) Why did Philadelphia wait until 1980 to use a mintmark? I don't know. I think the question should be 'why did Philadelphia ever start using a mintmark?'
The mint also removed mintmarks in 65-66-67 to discourage collecting as they were running out of change everywhere. Is this possible? Edit: Oops.....me bad, read the Q wrong
I never thought of it that way, but I bet you're correct. My only question is why all coins got the P mintmark in 1979 (SBAs) and 1980 (nickels, dimes, quarters, halves) except the penny? Not that I want it to get one, but it seems a bit inconsistant.
My question was about the quarter only I am aware of all the other info it is only the quarter thanks.
Please Read. History of Mint marks http://www.coinworld.com/NewCollector/MintMarks.asp#History http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/collectors_corner/index.cfm?action=mint_marks Cheryl
