1942-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-010

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-131 and DMR-012, RPM-010 on the 1942 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent documents mint mark displacement where the S punch was applied to the working die multiple times in slightly different positions. All die stages remain unconfirmed, meaning researchers have not yet recorded the full die state progression for this variety. The 1942-S Lincoln Wheat Cent belongs to the final year of standard bronze composition, as the Mint would transition to zinc-coated steel for the 1943 cents and then to shell case brass for 1944 through 1946 in response to wartime copper conservation demands. Victor David Brenner's Wheat reverse provides the design framework, with the S mint mark below the wreath where the secondary punch impression creates the RPM diagnostic. Repunched mint marks from the early 1940s document the hand-punching process used at each mint facility before 1990. San Francisco production in 1942 contributed to the last full year of standard composition cents before wartime alloy changes transformed the series. The unconfirmed die stages for all progression points invite further research to establish diagnostic markers across this terminal bronze-year San Francisco Wheat Cent variety.

Die Markers

• UVC-131
• DMR-012
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References