1949-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-032

Description

Repunched mint mark WRPM-032 on the 1949 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent documents displacement of the S mint mark where the punch was applied to the working die more than once in slightly different positions. This secondary impression adjacent to the primary S creates a visible doubled or shifted mint mark diagnostic on the reverse. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1949-S 1¢ WRPM-032, repunched mint marks from the pre-1990 era occur because mint marks were individually hand-punched into each working die, introducing misalignment between successive punch applications. The 1949 San Francisco Lincoln Wheat Cent belongs to the post-war production era of the series, which continued Victor David Brenner's reverse design from 1909 through 1958. San Francisco Mint operations during the late 1940s produced cents for western circulation, and the hand-punched S on each working die created opportunities for RPM varieties. The diagnostic on the reverse provides collectors with a focused examination zone at the mint mark location below the wreath, where the secondary punch impression distinguishes this variety from normal S placement. Die Markers: Obverse: Die scratches at the upper forehead and hair line. Die gouge at the back of the eye lid. N/S die scratches run north from the tops of RTY of LIBERTY; strongest above the T of LIBERTY. N/S die scratches about the 19 of date. Die scratches run north from the top of the C of CENT. Short N/S die scratch inside the upper E of CENT. Multiple die scratches run south between the C and A of AMERICA.

Attribution History

• Discovered by David Bloomberg Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1949-S 1¢ WRPM-032
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References