1951-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-003

Description

Standing apart from the three southward-repunched S varieties for this date, the 1951-S Franklin Half Dollar RPM-003 shows an S over S repunched to the west — the only westward correction among the four 1951-S RPMs. Paired with reverse design variant RDV-001b (distinguishing it from RPM-002's RDV-001a pairing), this variety's unique displacement direction means the initial S appears displaced to the east of the final position, creating a different overlap pattern than the north-displaced remnants seen on the southward RPMs. The westward correction indicates the die maker's initial punch landed too far to the right, requiring a leftward adjustment — a different type of positional error than the too-high placement that caused the southward corrections on RPMs 002, 004, and 005. This directional distinction makes RPM-003 the easiest of the four 1951-S RPMs to differentiate, as the eastward-displaced first S creates horizontal overlap rather than the vertical overlap of the southward varieties. Franklin Half Dollars were struck in 90% silver at 30.6mm during the series' fourth year. Sinnock's Liberty Bell reverse — with its painstaking rendering of every crack and inscription on the historical bell — provides the backdrop for the mintmark area. Check the S mintmark for the eastward-displaced initial impression — the horizontal displacement that distinguishes this from the date's three southward RPMs.

External References