1951 (S) Jefferson Nickel - Repunched Mintmark WRPM-011

Description

Bearing the attribution Wexler Variety ID: 1951-S 5¢ WRPM-011 and photographed by Brian Ribar, this San Francisco Jefferson Nickel represents one of at least eleven documented repunched mintmark varieties for the 1951-S date. Eleven RPMs on a single issue suggest that San Francisco's die shop experienced frequent mintmark repositioning during preparation of the 1951 working dies — a volume placing this date among the more prolific for Jefferson Nickel RPM discoveries. The Korean War was underway when these coins were struck, and domestic coin production continued at pace to support a wartime economy. Hand-punching the mintmark required aligning a small steel punch bearing the letter S over a precise location on each working die, and even fractional misalignment between impressions created overlapping images that define an RPM. Felix Schlag's Jefferson portrait, facing left on the obverse, paired with his depiction of Monticello's south facade. Ribar's photographic contributions to the Jefferson Nickel RPM record have proven invaluable for collectors who rely on high-resolution imagery to confirm variety attributions.

Cross References

• None known Comments: The photo of the RPM was taken by Brian Ribar.; Wexler Variety ID: 1951-S 5¢ WRPM-011

External References