1941 (S) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Repunched Mintmark WRPM-011

Description

Bearing an unusually large S mintmark punched over a previous S positioned to the northwest, this 1941 San Francisco Lincoln Wheat Cent is cataloged as CONECA RPM #11 and recognized on the CONECA Top 100 RPM list — a distinction reserved for the most significant repunched mintmark varieties across all U.S. coin series. The Wexler Variety ID is 1941-S 1-cent WRPM-011. The large size of the S mintmark is itself a diagnostic feature, as San Francisco used mintmark punches of varying sizes during this period. Die markers for both obverse and reverse were not detected due to the circulated condition of the specimen photographed, and CONECA has noted that a higher-grade specimen is needed to obtain better photographs and complete die marker documentation. The 1941-S Wheat Cent was struck in the year America entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the San Francisco Mint's cent production would continue through the war years including the 1943 steel cent transition. Repunched mintmarks from this era are particularly collectible because the hand-punching process used at branch mints was inherently imprecise, and each RPM preserves a unique moment of human error in the die-preparation workshop. The Top 100 RPM designation places this among the elite varieties that every serious RPM collector pursues.

Cross References

• CONECA: RPM #11 Top 100 RPM: CONECA Comments: A higher grade specimen of this variety is needed to obtain better photos and; Wexler Variety ID: 1941-S 1¢ WRPM-011

External References