What are some common silver mint identification marks?

On U.S. coins minted before 1968, most identifying mint marks on silver coins were engraved on the reverse sides of the coins. After 1968, the Mint Director ordered the mark moved to the front of the coins. There are exceptions to this standard.

The mint mark is stamped into a coin to identify which mint produced the coin. In the United States, the mint mark is one of eight small letters. The two most common silver mint marks on U.S. coins are a D for Denver, Colorado, and an S for San Francisco, California.

Eight different mints have produced coins for the United States. The Philadelphia Mint was the only U.S. Mint for a long period, and therefore many coins minted there do not have identifying marks.