What is a mint mark on a coin?
A mint mark is a small letter or symbol that identifies the mint responsible for producing a coin. It is different from a mint master's mark or the initials of a designer or engraver, which may also appear on the coin.
Mint marks are especially useful when collecting euro coins from countries that use more than one mint. Germany is the best-known example: its euro coins are struck in five mints, marked with the letters A (Berlin), D (Munich), F (Stuttgart), G (Karlsruhe) and J (Hamburg).
Because each mint produces its own share of an issue, the same coin design can have a different mintage per mint mark. Many collectors therefore try to complete a design with every mint mark, which turns one coin into a small set of its own.
Mint marks are usually placed on the national side and can be very small. A magnifying glass helps, and the Coinection Mint Mark Locator shows where to look on selected euro coins.
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most common questions about Mint mark.
No. Many euro countries include a mint mark, but not all of them do, and some coins are produced by a foreign mint on behalf of the issuing country.
The mint mark is usually on the national side, often near the year or the outer ring of stars. The exact position differs per country and design.