1941-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-002

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista and cross-referenced as Fivaz-Stanton FS-501 in the Cherrypickers' Guide, the 1941-S RPM-002 Washington Silver Quarter exhibits an S/S North repunched mintmark where the initial S mintmark impression was placed slightly too low and a corrective second punch was applied in the proper position, leaving the remnant of the first impression visible below the final placement. Die markers UVC-0216 / DMR-012 document three progressive die states: Stage A at EDS (unconfirmed) with both reverse and obverse in early condition; Stage B at MDS (unconfirmed) showing moderate wear across both die faces; and Stage C at LDS (unconfirmed) representing the die near the end of its useful service life. The FS-501 Cherrypickers designation confirms this as a recognized variety worth searching for in circulation and collections, elevating its status above many undocumented RPMs from the same era. The Washington Quarter was designed by John Flanagan and struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1941, composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 6.25 grams with a diameter of 24.3 mm. Repunched mintmark varieties from the early 1940s document the manual mintmark application process where a small steel punch bearing the S letter was hammered by hand into each individual working die at the Philadelphia Mint before being shipped to San Francisco for use in production — a process inherently prone to slight misalignment that necessitated corrective re-punching, creating the diagnostic S/S patterns actively collected today.

Die Markers

• UVC-0216
• DMR-012
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Fivaz
• FS-501
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References