1887-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-001

Description

Triple-attributed as CONECA RPM #1, VAM #2, and Wexler WRPM-001, this repunched mintmark on the 1887-S Morgan Dollar documents the hand-punching process at the San Francisco Mint during a year of moderate silver dollar production. Each working die received its S mintmark from a small steel punch, and when the engraver's hammer struck more than once to seat the letter, any repositioning between blows left overlapping impressions of the mintmark on the die face. The convergence of designations across three major attribution systems — Wexler, CONECA, and VAM — ensures this variety can be identified regardless of which reference a collector consults. San Francisco had been producing Morgan Dollars since the series' 1878 inception, and by 1887 the facility had nearly a decade of experience striking George T. Morgan's design. Repunched mintmarks are among the most commonly collected Morgan Dollar varieties because the overlapping impressions are often visible under moderate magnification and provide clear evidence of the pre-industrial hand-punching technique. The first cataloged RPM for this date across all three systems, WRPM-001 anchors the 1887-S mintmark variety census.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: CONECA: RPM #1, VAM: #2
• CONECA: RPM #1, VAM: #2; Wexler Variety ID: 1887-S $1 WRPM-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References