1937-D Repunched Mintmark WRPM-013

Description

Thirteenth documented repunched mintmark for the 1937-D Lincoln Wheat Cent, WRPM-013 shows a D/D Southeast configuration — the initial D was placed slightly northwest of the intended position before a corrective second punch drove the mintmark home, leaving the first impression visible as a shadow displaced to the northwest. Denver struck 34.5 million wheat cents in 1937, a solid Depression-era mintage that ensured ample circulation and survival. The Wexler Team examined a circulated specimen, and no obverse or reverse die markers were visible on the worn surfaces examined. Better-preserved examples may reveal die scratches, gouges, or polishing lines that are obscured by wear on circulated coins, so the current die marker record is preliminary. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1937-D 1c WRPM-013 with no known cross-references, thirteen documented RPM varieties for this date speaks to the hand-punching era's inherent variability — each working die received its D mintmark individually through a manual process, and any slight misalignment on the first blow left permanent evidence in the die steel. The southeast offset classification describes the direction of the first (erroneous) impression relative to the final position: the initial D sat northwest, so the visible remnant of that first strike appears southeast of where it should be. RPM varieties from the 1930s wheat cent series remain popular with collectors because the mintmark area is small enough that repunching is often dramatic relative to the letter size.

Attribution History

• Discovered by David Goff Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1937-D 1¢ WRPM-013
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References