One year thing? OK, all for it. Just as long as they go back to leaving it off (which they say they will) the next year. Tradition......
Ya know, most of this will be lost on the general public. I'd be surprised if anyone picks up on it........maybe the mint is throwing collectors a bone? It would be nice, but I could go it one better.......mint the coins in traditional metal content for one year, along with the afore mentioned mint mark. Zincolns suck......
They probably just figure that with the billions upon billions of dollars the government is throwing away with things like making pennies, so what if collectors set aside another 10,000,000 pennies.
Considering the general sloppy cents coming out of Philly for so many years, with over usage of their dies, this is going to be very interesting.
Setting the scene for a "no-P" variety to be discovered...! It should be a GIANT war-nickel style P, though.
I think it's a nice gesture by the mint perhaps throwing collectors a bone as I'm not sure that tons are thrilled about the 225th anniversary other offerings. This is also something that may spark a few among the general public to start looking at coins if picked up by the news. Although I imagine that these are going to be saved in such extreme numbers that they'll never be worth more than face value.
It is a nice little move by the mint regardless of whether or not they have collector's best intentions in mind. The best part is you can get them at the bank for face value. I agree with what others have already said that they will probably never be worth more than face. Would still be a nice little addition to a folder/album set though, in my opinion.
It has me wondering if someone made a mistake by putting a mintmark on the dies and they decided to go ahead and use them instead of eat them.
You'd think the Mint has a final processing step where every Cent on the line passes under a "random disfigurement" stamper....
Why only for the cent? Seems like they could've done the same thing for all 2017 coins. I would've loved to see a 2017 nickel with a big 'P', like the wartime nickels: Maybe they're saving the big mint marks for the 250th anniversary in 2042 (coincidentally, that'll be the 100th anniversary of the war nickel).
They do this, but not the 180th anniversary of Seated coinage. Don't worry, @Cascade, in 2018 you'll be in the same boat. On a side note, good luck to me finding one in Oregon.