Where Are Quarters Minted? A Look at U.S. Mint Locations
Uncover the origins of your U.S. quarters. Explore the facilities that mint America's ubiquitous coinage, past and present.
Quarters are a fundamental component of American currency. These familiar coins, featuring George Washington on the obverse, are integral to the nation’s financial system. The United States Mint is responsible for their production, ensuring a consistent supply of coinage for public use across various facilities.
Active U.S. Mints Producing Quarters
The United States Mint operates four main facilities that produce coins, with some directly contributing to the quarter supply. The Philadelphia Mint in Pennsylvania and the Denver Mint in Colorado are the main producers of circulating quarters. These two facilities produce millions of coins daily, ensuring the continuous availability of quarters for transactions nationwide.
The San Francisco Mint in California and the West Point Mint in New York also produce quarters, though their primary focus is on collector-oriented coins. The San Francisco Mint largely produces proof and uncirculated quarters for collectors. The West Point Mint primarily manufactures bullion and collectible coins, including some special issue quarters that occasionally enter circulation.
Identifying Quarter Mint Marks
A mint mark is a small letter or symbol on a coin that indicates its production facility. On modern Washington quarters, the mint mark is located on the obverse, to the right of George Washington’s portrait near his braid. This placement has been standard since 1968, though earlier quarters had their mint marks on the reverse.
Quarters produced at the Philadelphia Mint bear a “P” mint mark, a practice consistent for circulating quarters since 1980. Coins from the Denver Mint are identified by a “D” mint mark. Quarters struck at the San Francisco Mint carry an “S” mint mark, primarily found on proof and collector issues. In limited instances, quarters from the West Point Mint were issued with a “W” mint mark and entered general circulation.
Historical U.S. Mints That Produced Quarters
Beyond the currently active facilities, several other U.S. Mint locations have historically produced quarters. The New Orleans Mint, located in Louisiana, operated as a branch of the U.S. Mint from 1838 to 1861 and again from 1879 to 1909. This mint produced quarters, identifiable by an “O” mint mark, contributing to circulating coinage, particularly for the southern United States.
The Carson City Mint in Nevada also operated from 1870 to 1893. This mint converted precious metals from the Comstock Lode into coinage, including quarters. Quarters from this facility bear a “CC” mint mark, and due to their limited mintage and historical significance, they are often sought after by collectors.