1940 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Repunched Mintmark WRPM-001

Description

Cross-referenced as CONECA RPM #1, Coppercoins 1940D-1MM-001, and Wexler 1940-D 1c WRPM-001, this is the primary repunched mintmark variety for the 1940-D Lincoln Wheat Cent. The die progressed through three documented obverse and reverse stages. Obverse Stage A: a die scratch runs southwest to northeast through the front of the vest below the 19, and a strong die scratch cuts through the bottom of the hair just above the front of the forehead. Stage B shares the same obverse markers. Stage C adds a die crack at the base of the bust. On the reverse, Stage A shows no significant markers. By Stage B, a die chip appears in the first N in UNUM and a die crack runs from the U in UNUM southwest to the rim. Stage C retains the Stage B reverse markers. The 1940-D is a high-mintage cent of the late pre-war era, struck in bronze composition. Repunched mintmarks on cents of this period resulted from the manual punching of individual mintmark stamps into working dies — a process prone to misalignment that makes RPM varieties a natural consequence of mint practice. CONECA RPM #1 status indicates this is the lead variety in the sequence for the date.

Cross References

• CONECA: RPM #1, Coppercoins: 1940D-1MM-001; Wexler Variety ID: 1940-D 1¢ WRPM-001

External References