1950-D Repunched Mintmark WRPM-004

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1950-D 1¢ WRPM-004 and cross-referenced as CONECA RPM #5 and Coppercoins 1950D-1MM-005, this repunched mintmark variety was struck on a 1950-D Lincoln Wheat cent at the Denver Mint. The 1950 cent was composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a 19 mm diameter and a plain edge. Denver struck 334,950,000 cents in 1950, a substantial mid-century production figure. The triple cross-referencing across Wexler, CONECA, and Coppercoins confirms this variety's recognition by all three major attribution services, indicating well-established documentation. This variety is documented across two obverse die stages with corresponding reverse pairings. Obverse Stage A features a die scratch running east from the right edge of the 9, then turning south at the edge of the 5 of the date, creating a distinctive angled scratch path that traces along two adjacent date numerals. Obverse Stage B shows this same die scratch as very faint, confirming progressive die wear that gradually obscured the feature. Reverse Stage A carries an east-west die scratch running through IBUS of PLURIBUS. Reverse Stage B, representing a new reverse die paired with the worn obverse, shows a die gouge on the right edge of the left wheat stalk to the left of the C of CENT and a northwest-to-southeast die scratch inside the C of CENT. The die re-pairing documented between stages — where the reverse die was changed while the repunched mintmark obverse continued in service — is a common production practice that sometimes results in a single variety die being found with different reverse die companions. The 1950-D WRPM-004 occupies the early numerical sequence of cataloged RPMs for this date, suggesting it was among the earlier-discovered repunched mintmark varieties for the 1950-D cent, and its multi-service documentation confirms sustained collector interest in this particular die.

Attribution History

• CONECA: RPM #5, Coppercoins: 1950D-1MM-005; Wexler Variety ID: 1950-D 1¢ WRPM-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References