1948 (D) Jefferson Nickel - Repunched Mintmark WRPM-003

Description

A decade into the Jefferson Nickel's production life, the Denver Mint continued the hand-punching practice that generated repunched mintmarks throughout the series, and WRPM-003 of the 1948-D records one such instance cataloged by the Wexler Team. By 1948, Felix Schlag's design was well established in commerce, though the Mint had yet to adopt mechanical mintmark application that would eventually reduce RPM occurrences. The WRPM-003 designation places this as the third RPM variety documented for the 1948-D, indicating moderate variety activity consistent with the era's production methods. Denver's postwar nickel output was substantial, requiring numerous working dies, each needing its own hand-applied D mintmark to the right of Monticello on the reverse. The process involved a Mint employee using a lettering punch and mallet to impress the mintmark, and any misalignment on the first attempt necessitated a corrective second strike. Collectors specializing in Jefferson Nickel RPMs often find late 1940s dates rewarding to search, as these coins entered circulation in large numbers and remain available at modest cost.

Cross References

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1948-D 5¢ WRPM-003

External References