1942-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-015

Description

Fifteenth in the repunched mintmark catalog for the 1942 Denver Mint Mercury Dime, RPM-015 documents yet another instance where the D mintmark was punched into the reverse die, repositioned southward, and punched again. The notation "D/D South" tells collectors that the original D impression is visible below the final placement, creating a distinctive doubled appearance at the base of the mintmark. Fifteen cataloged RPMs for a single date and mint represents substantial variety — a testament to the volume of dies consumed at Denver during wartime production. The 1942-D dime was produced as the United States was ramping up industrial output following the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Mint production priorities were shifting to meet both civilian commerce and military needs. Adolph Weinman's Winged Liberty Head design, with its fasces reverse, was nearing the end of its production life in 1942, though it would continue through 1945 before being replaced by John Sinnock's Roosevelt design. Each D mintmark was hand-punched into the die at the Denver facility, and the fifteenth cataloged misalignment demonstrates how routinely these positional errors occurred when engravers worked through large batches of dies under production pressure. Mercury Dime RPM collectors often pursue complete catalogs for individual dates, and the 1942-D with its extensive RPM roster offers one of the richer hunting grounds in the series. The southward direction is among the most common orientations for Denver Mint repunched marks on this denomination.

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