1953-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-002

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista under UVC-239 and DMR-003, this 1953-D Roosevelt Dime RPM-002 documents a D/D Southwest repunched mintmark. An unusual feature distinguishes this entry: two different obverse dies were paired with the reverse during production. Stage C transitions to UVC-244 with DMR-008, indicating the original obverse was retired and replaced while the same RPM-bearing reverse continued in service. This die-swap documentation provides insight into Mint practices where obverse and reverse dies wore at different rates and were routinely mixed to maximize die life. The D/D Southwest direction indicates the hand-held mintmark punch drifted down and to the left between applications, one of eight standard directional classifications. Denver struck Roosevelt Dimes in 90% silver through the early 1950s, and the hand-punching process — where each die received its D individually — made slight positional variation inevitable across the hundreds of die pairs needed for annual production.

Die Markers

• UVC-239
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die scratches Northeast on Reverse – LMDS
• Die crack from behind ear to rim at K-2 – LMDS
• Die break on eyebrow
• Small die chip on nose
• UVC-244
• DMR-008
• Stage C:
• Die scratches Northwest on Reverse – LDS
• Obverse die changed – EDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Unknown, Paul Funaiole
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References