Expert: Ronald Fern - 4/17/2010

Question
I have a 1976 nickel. There is no mint mark on the front and I understand from some of the reading I have done that is normal. There is however a large P on the back of the coin stamped right above the dome. It doesn't look like a regular mint mark. First of all it is larger than a regular mark, but it also appears to be stamped into the coin. It doesn't raise above the surface like a regular mint mark. I have tried internet searches and come up with nothing. I am wondering if this coin in legitimate, or if this is something someone has done to it along the way. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

Answer
Hi Melissa:

Thanks for your question.

From your description, I'd say you have an altered coin. The mint did not put mint marks on the reverse of the five cent coin in 1976, and they were never recessed or punched into the coin by hand. For some reason, an individual decided to "add" the "P" to your coin after it left the mint. It is an interesting conversation piece, but has no added numismatic value.

From Wikipedia: "Since 1970 all nickels for circulation have been minted at Philadelphia and Denver. Mint marks may be found on the reverse, in the right field between Monticello and the rim, on nickels from 1938 to 1964. From 1965 to 1967 no mint marks were used regardless of where the coins were struck, and beginning in 1968, the mint mark was moved to the obverse, just below the date, where it remains today. In 1980, the Philadelphia mint began using a "P" mint mark on all nickels."  Your 1976 nickel had no mint mark for Philadelphia.

For more information, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_nickel#Jefferson_nickel_.281938.E2.80.932...

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