1949-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-044

Description

With forty-four documented repunched mint marks for the 1949-S Lincoln Wheat Cent, the San Francisco issues from this date rank among the most prolific sources of RPM varieties in the entire Wheat Cent series. WRPM-044, attributed by the Wexler Team, records yet another instance where the S mint mark punch was applied to the working die with slight positional variation between impressions. Obverse die markers include a die scratch running south by east from the lower left of the R in LIBERTY, die scratches extending north from the top of RTY in LIBERTY, and a die gouge between the rim and bust at approximately the 5:30 position. The reverse carries a die chip appearing as a dot near the left center of the first T in STATES, die scratches running northeast from the A in STATES through the bottom of the T of CENT, and a die scratch trailing south-southeast from the lower left of the first A in AMERICA past the left wheat stem. The 1949-S cent was produced in the standard bronze composition of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. San Francisco's role as a branch mint required hand-punching the S on every working die, a process inherently prone to positional variation.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1949-S 1¢ WRPM-044
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References