1951-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-016

Description

Struck at the San Francisco Mint during the Korean War, the 1951-S Lincoln Wheat Cent bearing WRPM-016 preserves a repunched mint mark from one of the most turbulent periods in postwar American history. Cataloged by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID 1951-S 1¢ WRPM-016, this variety documents a working die on which the S mint mark was punched at least twice, leaving diagnostic traces of an earlier impression alongside the final placement. The conflict in Korea (1950–1953) drove significant military expenditure and domestic economic activity, sustaining demand for circulating coinage that kept San Francisco's presses busy throughout the early 1950s. Hand-punching of mint marks — standard at all branch mints until 1989 — required a die setter to position a small steel letter punch and strike it with a mallet into each working die, a manual operation inherently vulnerable to slight misalignment. Sixteen documented RPMs for the 1951-S cent indicates moderate variety density, reflecting both San Francisco's production volume and sustained research by Lincoln Cent specialists. No additional cross-references beyond the Wexler catalog are currently listed.

Attribution History

• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1951-S 1¢ WRPM-016
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References