1949-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-003

Description

Three separate S mintmark impressions — S/S/S — with displacement in both east and west directions make this 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar RPM-003 one of the most complex repunched mintmarks in the series. The triple punching with bidirectional displacement tells a remarkable story of die preparation: the die maker's first punch landed off-position, the correction overshot in one direction, and a third application was needed to achieve acceptable placement. The east and west displacement directions mean remnants of the two earlier S impressions flank the final letter on both sides, creating a wider apparent mintmark footprint with overlapping curves extending beyond the definitive S's boundaries. Triple-punched mintmarks are significantly less common than standard double-punched varieties because they require three separate punch applications — each additional impression is an increasingly unlikely event in normal production. The 1949-S had three cataloged RPMs (001, 002, and 003), and this triple-punched example is the most complex of the three. Struck in 90% silver at 30.6mm on the Franklin Half Dollar's second San Francisco issue. Look for evidence of three S impressions — the extra curves extending both east and west of the final mintmark indicate where the two earlier punches left their traces before the third, definitive impression.

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