1938-D Repunched Mintmark WRPM-001

Description

First in the Wexler catalog of repunched mintmarks for the 1938-D Mercury Dime, WRPM-001 displays a D/D North configuration — the initial D mintmark punch was placed too low, and the correcting second punch shifted the final mintmark northward, leaving traces of the original lower position visible. This was also cataloged by CONECA as RPM #1, confirming independent recognition across two major attribution organizations. The die markers are richly detailed: two light obverse die scratches run south-by-east from the left bottom of the wing into the back of Liberty's head, and on the reverse an east-west die crack runs through the top of ITED in UNITED, with a northeast-southwest die scratch connecting the lower R in PLURIBUS to the top of the N in UNUM. These markers provide confident identification even on well-circulated specimens where the repunching itself may be partially worn. The 1938-D Mercury Dime was struck at the Denver Mint during the final year before the introduction of Felix Schlag's Jefferson Nickel, though the Mercury Dime itself would continue through 1945. During this period, mintmarks on dimes were hand-punched into each working die at the branch mint, a labor-intensive process where misalignment on the first punch attempt was corrected by a second, more carefully positioned blow. Attributed by the Wexler Team, WRPM-001 holds the distinction of being the first documented repunched mintmark for this date, earning the foundational -001 sequence number that anchors the variety's position in the catalog.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John S. Gillilan Cross References: CONECA: RPM #1
• CONECA: RPM #1; Wexler Variety ID: 1938-D 10¢ WRPM-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References