WRPM-001 Repunched Mint Mark

Description

Cataloged by John A. Wexler, this 1848-D Liberty Head Half Eagle from the Dahlonega Mint carries the primary Wexler RPM designation for the date. Cross-referenced as CONECA RPM #1 and Cherrypickers FS-G5-1848D-501. Obverse die markers: a die scratch runs NW from the crossbar of 1 to a star, another scratch from rim to first star, and two small die gouges at rim near the 3rd-4th stars. Reverse markers: die crack from upper serif of E in STATES to O in OF, die chip between 6th-7th rows of vertical bars approximately one-third from bottom, and die crack from top left serif of U in UNITED through bottoms of letters in FIVE. Struck in .900 fine gold at 8.359 grams and 21.6 mm, the Dahlonega Mint operated from 1838-1861 and produced relatively small quantities of gold coins, making die varieties from this facility inherently scarce.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die scratch runs NW from crossbar of 1 to star; scratch from rim to first star; two small die gouges at rim near 3rd-4th stars. Reverse: Die crack from upper serif of E in STATES to O in OF; die chip between 6th-7th rows of vertical bars ~1/3 from bottom; die crack from top left serif of U in UNITED through bottoms of letters in FIVE.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Frank M. Zapushek
• CONECA: RPM #1, Cherrypickers: FS-G5-1848D-501
• Expert attribution by John A. Wexler

External References