MintPricedHow to read a coin’s date, design and series
Identifying a US coin comes down to four facts: denomination, design (the series), date and mint mark. Get all four right and you can look the coin up in any reference.
Start with the parts of a coin
- Obverse — the front, usually with a portrait and the date.
- Reverse — the back, usually with the denomination and “United States of America”.
- Edge — plain, reeded (ridged), lettered or decorated. Presidential dollars (since 2007) and Native American dollars (since 2009) carry the date and mint mark on the edge.
- Field, relief, rim, inscription — background, raised design, raised border and lettering.
Find the date
On most US coins the date is on the obverse, below or beside the portrait. If the last digit is worn, compare the shape of the digits with a sharp example of the same series, and check under side light. Do not guess: a 3 and an 8, or a 6 and a 9, can look alike when worn.
Identify the design type
Many series changed their design over time while keeping the same name. The Lincoln cent, for example, has had a wheat-ears reverse (1909–1958), a Lincoln Memorial reverse (1959–2008), four bicentennial designs (2009) and a Union Shield reverse (since 2010). The US coin series overview lists the main modern series and their dates.
Dates that need extra care
- 1965–1967: no mint marks on circulating coins, whichever mint struck them.
- 1964 and earlier: dimes, quarters and halves are 90% silver (see silver coin basics).
- Bicentennial coins: quarters, half dollars and dollars struck in 1975 and 1976 carry the double date “1776–1976” and a special reverse.
- Commemoratives: dated like other coins but not made for circulation (see commemorative vs circulating coins).
Then the mint mark
Once you know the date and design, look for the mint mark in the place that series uses. Our mint marks guide explains P, D, S, W and the historic marks.
World coins
Many countries use non-Latin scripts or regnal years (years of a ruler’s reign) instead of Western dates. In that case a catalog or an identification app is the fastest way to a correct match; always confirm the result against the coin in your hand.
Sources and further reading
Related question in the coin FAQ: Why are there no mint marks on my 1965–1967 coins?
General information, not financial or appraisal advice. Values depend on condition and the buyer; ask a qualified dealer or grading service before buying or selling.