1949 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Repunched Mintmark WRPM-025

Description

Submitted by Scott Rusch to the Wexler files, WRPM-025 on the 1949-D Lincoln wheat cent shows a D/D East repunched mintmark — the Denver mintmark punched over a prior impression displaced to the east. Obverse die markers include a die scratch running SSW from inside the O of GOD, die scratches running SW from the W in WE, and a visible die clash at the throat — where reverse design elements transferred to the obverse die during an unprotected die contact event. The reverse carries two die gouges from the left center and left upper area of the second U in PLURIBUS, plus east/west die scratches seen above and through the T of CENT. No other cross-references beyond the Wexler designation are known. The 1949-D wheat cent had a mintage of over 153 million pieces from the Denver Mint, continuing the post-war production expansion that characterized the late 1940s. Repunched mintmarks from this era reflect the hand-punching method used to apply branch mint identifiers to individual working dies — a process that was inherently imprecise and left evidence whenever the punch operator adjusted position between strikes. The die clash at Lincoln's throat adds a second layer of interest, indicating this die experienced at least one clash event during its production life, leaving a faint reverse impression as an additional attribution marker.

Cross References

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1949-D 1¢ WRPM-025

External References