If you are really interested to collect various types of coins you need to make the proper selection.
Often it is found that many guys have lot of confusion how to collect coins which will have the sound historical background.
However, in case you want to be an efficient and good numismatist, you should have the proper information about the minting marks of the coins.
To be frank, mint marks are considered to be the small sized letters which indicate the place where the coins are minted.
If you close observe the coins, you will come to know that on the rear side of the coins there are prominent minting marks.
•You should know that every American coin is embossed with these mint markings and people know the minting branch by reading the markings on the reverse side of the coins.
•The "Director of the Mint" has set a number of guidelines through the enactment of "Act of March 3, 1835" for the perfect minting of the coins.
Everyone should follow the guidelines while minting the coins.
it is also true that there was no mint mark on the coins which were manufactured at the Philadelphia minting unit before 1979.
•You should keep in mind that the coin collectors can test the authenticity and market value of these collectibles through the minting marks.
At the same time you should know the process of minting.
It will provide you ample scope for better understanding about the coinage history.
•At the time of minting, the accurate thickness is required in the matter of making the metal strips.
You must know that zinc is such a wonderful metal which is used to mint pennies whereas the alloyed strip metal contains the perfect amount of nickel.
•Dollars, dimes, half dollars are minted and designed in right combination with three coated layers; The outer hull of the coin is alloyed and the middle part is covered with copper.
The next step is that the metal strips are inserted into blanking method which is accountable for shaping the round blanks.
Then the manufacturers run the blanks through the annealing hearth and barrels.
These blanks are also passed through cylinders that revolve.
These cylinders contain highly qualitative chemical components for cleaning and washing the blanks.
At the final stage the coin is pressurized by striking.
For instance, the pennies require the 40 tons pressure for good striking.
The recent emblem of a coin symbolizes earlier presidents of America.
For instance the honorable president Lincoln is shown on the 1 cent worth coin whereas the image of Washington displays on 25 cents.
Finally, 50 States Quarters Program has approved the right of the redesigning of American quarters.