By Bitsobull 
Privy Marks, Mint Marks and Special Symbols on Coins Explained
If you’ve ever wondered what the small symbols, letters, or engravings on modern gold coins mean, you’re not alone. These markings—often inconspicuous but packed with meaning—can significantly impact a coin’s numismatic value and appeal. In this article, we explain what privy marks, mint marks, and other special symbols mean, how they’re used, and why they’re so important to collectors.
Important to know: The terms Privy Mark and Mint Mark originally come from English and have also become established as technical terms in German-speaking countries – they are therefore generally not translated.
1. What are privy marks?
Privy marks (also known as secret marks or special marks in German) are small additional symbols minted on a coin for design or collector-strategic reasons. They usually serve to identify specific occasions, themes, or series without significantly altering the main design of the coin.
Examples of Privy Marks:
Privy Marks are not security features – they serve purely aesthetic or collector-related purposes and are deliberately placed in small editions to create exclusivity.
2. What are Mint Marks?
Mint marks are symbols that indicate which mint a coin was minted in. While many national mints—such as the Perth Mint—produce coins at only one location, the United States Mint has several mints, each with its own mint mark.
Examples of Mint Marks:
- “P” for Perth Mint (Australia)
- “S” for San Francisco Mint (USA)
- “ММД” (MMD) for the Moscow Mint (Russia)
- “SPMD” (SPMD) for the Saint Petersburg Mint (Russia)
For collectors, a specific mint mark can mean the difference between a standard issue and a rarity on otherwise identical coins.
3. Other special characters: serial characters, serial numbers, engravings
In addition to Privy Marks and Mint Marks, there are also other forms of special symbols on coins:
- Series symbols : These indicate the motif series to which a coin belongs. Well-known examples are:
- The Big Five series from South Africa with changing animal motifs – important: the actual Krugerrand coins in the series bear the series symbol, not the coins with animal motifs themselves. Each issue consists of a set of two coins : a Krugerrand coin with the respective animal symbol (e.g. elephant) and a separate Big Five coin with the corresponding animal motif.
- Serial numbers : Some modern coins have a serial number embossed directly on the edge of the coin – particularly noteworthy are:
Individual engravings on coin capsules, boxes or cases can also be part of the overall concept of a limited collector’s edition.
4. Why are these symbols important for collectors?
These small details often have a big impact on the collector value:
- Limitation and rarity : Privy Mark editions often appear in very small editions
- Recognition value : Collectors can see at a glance whether a coin belongs to a particular series
- Identification and authenticity verification : Combination of Privy, Mint Mark and certificate allows clear traceability
- Increase in market value : Especially for first editions or faulty privy marks, prices on the secondary market often rise sharply
5. Enhanced collectibility through certification: Krugerrand 2012 “One of First 300 Struck”
A prime example of a numismatically significant special mark outside of the mintage is the 2012 Krugerrand Proof, which bears the “One of First 300 Struck” label. This additional designation is awarded by NGC and documents that the coin is among the first 300 struck. Such pieces regularly fetch significantly higher prices on the market than standard issues.
Conclusion
Privy marks, mint marks, and other special markings are far more than decorative details—they express rarity, significance, and a passion for collecting. Those who know how to interpret these marks can recognize true numismatic treasures where others see only a gold coin.