1949 (S) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Repunched Mintmark WRPM-018

Description

1949-S WRPM-018 is a repunched mint mark on the 1949-S Lincoln Wheat cent, cataloged by the Wexler team. Wexler describes it as S/S West: the extra S lies west of the primary. Obverse Stage A: a NW gouge from the upper right of the date's last 9; strong north-south scratches right of the profile; and lighter north-south scratches over most of the obverse. On Obverse Stage B a strong clash appears at the throat, the scratches are weaker, and the gouge at the date remains. Obverse Stage C: heavy north-south scratches at the throat from an attempt to polish away the clash; two east-west scratches through the top of GOD; and a gouge heading SSE off the rim at about 9:15, which Wexler queries as a possible dropped die. The Stage B scratches and the Stage A gouge at the date are still present. Obverse Stage D adds a strong gouge at the rim above LIBERTY's L. On Obverse Stage E the date gouge remains, only the heavier scratches in front of the profile are left, the rim gouge is weaker, the other scratches are weak or abraded away, and the clash is abraded away. By Obverse Stage F just very weak remnants of the profile scratches are left, and the date gouge is weaker. On Obverse Stage G the date gouge is very weak, the upper separation of the mint mark has been abraded away, and all scratches are gone. Reverse Stage A shows light lathe scratches close to the rim, and light north-by-west/south-by-east scratches on most of the reverse. On Reverse Stage B the lathe scratches show mostly above PLURIBUS and the Stage A scratches are weak, mostly at the ES of STATES; new are a NE/SW scratch at the top center of UNUM's first U, an east-by-north/west-by-south scratch through that U's bottom, and a WSW scratch from the lower left of CENT's E through UNITED's U to the wheat ear. On Reverse Stage C the Stage B markers remain but are weaker at UNUM's first U, and a new ENE scratch runs from the upper right of STATES' second T. On Reverse Stage D the earlier scratches remain except at the U of UNUM; a north-by-west crack runs from the upper left of the left wheat tip, and a NW crack leaves the rim at 3:15, enters the right wheat grain, and turns north. Reverse Stage E is a second reverse: a northward scratch joining the left wheat tip with EPU's E at its left center; north-by-west/south-by-east scratches through CENT's C; north-south scratches at CENT's T; and mostly north-by-west/south-by-east scratches at UNITED's UN, STATES' STA, OF's O, and AMERICA's RICA. On Reverse Stage F the scratch from the wheat tip is weaker, the left-side scratches are abraded away, the right-side ones are weaker, a long west-by-south/east-by-west scratch runs under AMERICA, and a short gouge lies below that scratch, under AMERICA's last A. On Reverse Stage G the scratch under AMERICA is nearly abraded away, the Stage F gouge is weak, and all other scratches are gone. John Bordner submitted Stages A, B, D, and F, Frank Bruske Stage C, and Brian Ribar Stages E and G; Brian Ribar also took the photo of the RPM. Wexler lists no cross-references.

Cross References

• None known Comments: The photo of the RPM was taken by Brian Ribar.; Wexler Variety ID: 1949-S 1¢ WRPM-018

External References