1942 (S) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Repunched Mintmark WRPM-021

Description

Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1942-S 1c WRPM-021, this repunched S mintmark variety on the 1942-S Lincoln Wheat Cent is documented with an extensive die marker suite across both faces. Obverse markers include a die scratch running southwest from the bottom tip of the 9, and a light die crack running west to east above the designer's initials ending near the center of the bust. The reverse carries multiple markers: die pitting above the N in UNITED; a die gouge (dot) above the I in AMERICA; multiple die cracks on the right wheat stalk running south from the top right kernel to the second-from-bottom kernel then heading southwest to the rim; and a second short die crack on the center left kernels. Repunched mintmarks on Wheat Cents of the 1940s resulted from the hand-punching process used at each branch mint, where misalignment between the first and final punch produced the secondary impression. The 1942-S Lincoln cent was struck in standard bronze alloy, as the wartime change to zinc-coated steel did not take effect until 1943. No cross-references to other catalogs are known for this variety.

Cross References

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1942-S 1¢ WRPM-021

External References