1939-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-003

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-074 and DMR-004, this 1939-D Lincoln Wheat Cent RPM-003 presents a D/D repunched mintmark with the secondary impression displaced to the south — meaning the first D punch application landed slightly north of the intended position, and the corrective second strike shifted the final mintmark southward, leaving traces of the original impression visible above the final letter placement. Three die stages document this die's service history: Stage A is early die state with both the obverse and reverse at EDS; Stage B records both at mid-die-state (MDS); and Stage C is late die state (LDS, unconfirmed). The confirmed EDS observation for Stage A is noteworthy because early die state specimens typically show the cleanest and sharpest mintmark details, making them ideal for examining the repunching features before subsequent die wear softens the secondary impression traces. The 1939-D Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in the standard bronze composition of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The 1939-D had a mintage of approximately 15.2 million pieces, a relatively modest figure that reflects Depression-era coin demand. Victor David Brenner designed the obverse Lincoln portrait, and the wheat ears reverse served from 1909 through 1958. The southward D displacement documented in this RPM-003 provides a different directional offset from other 1939-D RPM varieties in the VarietyVista catalog, contributing to a comprehensive record of the range of positional errors that occurred during Denver Mint mintmark application for this date. Collectors examining 1939-D cents should examine the area immediately above the D under 10x magnification for traces of the northward-displaced initial impression.

Die Markers

• UVC-074
• DMR-004
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lloyd Hanson
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References