Although I know the P is rarely used, I have no idea why other than if there isn't a D or S it is a P. Was the Philadelphia Mint the original therefore no need?
I think that was originally the idea. But then why did they add them to all the other denominations in 1979/80
Plus setting the scene for zinc rot and the plethora of questions on weather or not they are doubled die. "Is this valuable"?
Ahhhh, yes. I see that the Mint has finally solved the problem of striking cents at negative seigniorage!
My understanding is that is no longer "officially" the case. In the past all the "branch" mints reported to the Philadelphia mint as it was sorta the headquarters. I don't think that's he case anymore.
The headquarters is in Washington. The mint in Philadelphia was the first building that our fledgling nation built. Why Philadelphia? Well at the time it was our nation's capital. People tend to forget that part of history. But historically speaking, it was still the main mint and didn't display a mark on the coins it produced. Tradition keep it that way until the early nineteen eighties.
I understand the history . But for decades the branch mints reported to the Philadelphia mint. That's why they were branch mints. I don't think that's the case anymore. I read that some time ago but I couldn't tell you where. The tradition ended in 1979 with the SBA dollar and then with all coins minus the cent in 1980. I often wondered if the cent remained without a mark because at that time they weren't all minted in Philadelphia.
With me, it's kinda like the old country store that you grew up with, someone can buy it and rename it whatever they want, but everyone's still going to call it by the name they remember.
And make every cent cost three cents apiece to make instead of 1.5 cents. Camero is correct. The headquarters is in Washington NOW, but that wasn't always the case. When the mint first began there was one the one in Philadelphia and it was headed by the Director of the Mint. Its official title was "The United States Mint". When the other mints were opened, their Official titles were "U.S. Branch Mint in Xxxxx". They were headed by Superintendents and they answered to the Director in Philadelphia. In 1873 the headquarters of the mint was moved to Washington and the Directorship moved there. (Henry Linderman became the first Director to serve in Washington.) The Philadelphia mint was now also headed by a Superintendent that answered to the Director in Washington (James Pollock, who had been the Director became the Superintendent). The official titles of all the mints changed to the "U.S. Mint in Xxxxx" and they were no longer "Branch mints". This change is seen in official correspondence between the mints.
That's what I thought...but I didn't realize it happened so long ago. I had no idea the change was in 1873. Very interesting. Thanks for the info!
I hope I get one struck thru grease and the "P" is missing. Like my NH State Quarter that I found in change.