1953-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-014

Description

Documented by VarietyVista, this San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent RPM-014 features progressive die cracking that escalates dramatically between LDS and VLDS stages. Die markers UVC-494 / DMR-019: Stage A at EDS (unconfirmed); Stage B with obverse and reverse at MDS; Stage C with a light die crack in hair and on forehead at LDS and a die chip on the right crossbar of T of CENT at LDS; Stage D with a die crack from lapel to rim at VLDS, two die cracks in hair and on forehead, and die chips on T of CENT at VLDS. The single hair crack at Stage C multiplying to two cracks plus a new lapel-to-rim crack at Stage D documents accelerating structural failure in the final production window. Composed of 95% copper and 5% tin-zinc at 3.11 grams and 19.05 mm, the 1953-S was among the later San Francisco Wheat Cent issues before the Mint ceased operations in 1955.

Die Markers

• UVC-494
• DMR-019
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Light die crack in hair and on forehead – LDS
• Die chip on Right crossbar of T of CENT – LDS
• Stage D:
• Die crack from lapel to rim – VLDS
• Two die cracks in hair and on forehead
• Die chips on T of CENT – VLDS

External References