<P> Due to a shortage of nickel during World War II, the composition of the five - cent coin was changed to include silver . To mark this change, nickels minted in Philadelphia (which had featured no mintmarks until then) displayed a P in the field above the dome of Monticello . Nickels from San Francisco were minted in the same fashion, and Denver nickels reflected the change in 1943 . This new mintmark location continued until 1946, when the nickel returned to its pre-war composition . </P> <P> The P mintmark, discontinued after the war, reappeared in 1979 on the Anthony dollar . By 1982, it had appeared on every other regular - issue coin except the cent, which, with the exception of 2017 Lincoln Cents, still bears no P mintmark . The circulating cents struck in the 1980s at San Francisco (except proofs) and West Point also bear no mintmark, as their facilities were used to supplement Philadelphia's production . Given the limited numbers produced at each facility, they might have been hoarded as collectibles . </P> <P> For 2017, in commemoration of the U.S Mint's 225th Anniversary, the P mintmark was placed on the obverse of Philadelphia - minted Lincoln cents for the first time in the coin's 100 + year history . The P mintmark will not re-appear for 2018 circulation strikes minted in Philadelphia . </P>

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