1949-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-004

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with die marker codes UVC-316 and DMR-005, this 1949-D Lincoln Wheat Cent RPM-004 exhibits a D/D repunched mintmark described in community comments as D/D Southeast — specifying that the initial D mintmark impression was placed to the southeast of the final position, requiring the engraver to reposition the punch northwest for the corrective second strike. Three die stages are documented: Stage A in early die state (EDS), unconfirmed; Stage B at mid-die-state (MDS), also unconfirmed; and Stage C with both obverse and reverse confirmed at late die state (LDS). The southeast displacement direction provides specific spatial information that helps distinguish this variety from other 1949-D RPMs with different repunch vectors — in a date-mint combination with 60 or more cataloged RPM varieties, directional descriptions become essential for narrowing identification. The Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in 1949 in bronze composition (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) weighing 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19.05 mm. The 1949-D had a mintage of approximately 64.3 million pieces. Victor David Brenner designed the obverse portrait, and the wheat ears reverse design was in its 41st year. The southeast repunch direction means the remnant of the initial D impression appears to the southeast of the final D — under 10x magnification, collectors can expect to see traces of the secondary serifs and curves of the D extending toward the lower right relative to the primary letter. The fourth catalog position among 1949-D RPMs suggests this was among the earlier varieties documented for the date, and the LDS confirmation for Stage C indicates most surviving specimens reflect late die state conditions.

Die Markers

• UVC-316
• DMR-005
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Ken Potter
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References