1944-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-014

Description

Photographed by Brian Ribar, this 1944 San Francisco Jefferson Nickel WRPM-014 was struck in the wartime 35% silver alloy and carries a serif S mintmark — the formal letter style with terminal flourishes, as opposed to the sans-serif S used in other periods. The serif S provides a distinctive canvas for observing repunching, as the decorative terminals create additional contact points where secondary impressions become visible. Multiple die stages document the variety's progression, with extensive die markers on both sides providing supplementary confirmation. The 1944-S wartime nickel belongs to the emergency composition series produced from 1942 through 1945, when standard copper-nickel was replaced to conserve nickel for military use. The large mintmark above Monticello's dome — unique to wartime issues — makes San Francisco's serif S particularly prominent and readily examined for repunching evidence. Ribar's photographic documentation captures the serif details with sufficient clarity to show displacement between primary and secondary punch impressions across the decorative terminals. Die scratch SSE from the bottom of the L in LIBERTY. Small die gouge (dot) below the bowtie. NNW/SSE die scratches below GO of GOD. Short die scratch north from the top of the head to the right of the D of GOD. Small die gouge in the field at the back of the neck. Dot sized die gouge at the tail of the 9 in date. Obverse Stage B: Horizontal die clash remnant through upper 9. Reverse Stage A: Die gouge under the upper left wheat stem. Reverse Stage B: Die crack NW from the top of the E of ONE. A large die chip on the top of the C of CENT. Die gouge to the right of the M in UNUM.

Attribution History

• None known Comments: The photos for this variety were taken by Brian Ribar for the Wexler RPM Files.; Wexler Variety ID: 1944-S 1¢ WRPM-014
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References