1942 (P) Jefferson Nickel - Wartime Silver Alloy - Repunched Mintmark RPM-017

Description

Struck during the first year of wartime silver alloy production, the 1942-P Jefferson nickel RPM-017 is one of numerous repunched mintmark varieties created when the large P mintmark was introduced above Monticello's dome for the 35% silver composition. VarietyVista catalogs this variety under die markers UVC-026 and DMR-021, documenting three progressive die stages that trace the die's working life from fresh to failing. Stage A shows both the reverse and obverse in early die state. At Stage B, mid-die state is confirmed by a light die crack from the right dome running south between pillars three and four to lower pillar four, with the obverse also at mid-die state. By Stage C, the die crack extends south to the S of CENTS, indicating late die state, while the obverse has similarly progressed to late die state. The progressive cracking pattern from the dome area through the pillars to the denomination provides a clear road map for die state attribution. The 1942-P wartime nickel holds historical significance as the transitional year when the mint shifted compositions to conserve nickel for the war effort.

Die Markers

• UVC-026
• DMR-021
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Light die crack from Right dome South between pillar # 3 and # 4 to lower pillar # 4 – MDS
• Obverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• Die crack extends South to S of CENTS – LDS
• Obverse is LDS

External References