The inscription, typically a single letter or a combination thereof, indicates the United States Mint facility where a specific silver dollar was produced. These marks are found on the reverse of the coin, usually below the wreath. For example, an “O” signifies the New Orleans Mint, while a “CC” denotes the Carson City Mint. Coins lacking a mark were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
These identifiers are crucial to determining the rarity and, subsequently, the value of these historic coins. Certain mints produced fewer of these dollars than others, making those issues significantly more desirable to collectors. Understanding these symbols provides key insights into the circumstances of the coin’s production and the economic conditions of the era. Furthermore, specific mints, such as Carson City, are associated with the romanticism of the Old West, adding to the allure of dollars bearing their mark.
