1960 (D) Lincoln Memorial Cent - Large Date - Repunched Mintmark RPM-020

Description

Recorded with a D/D/D North, North punch direction, RPM-020 is a triple-punched mintmark variety on the 1960-D Large Date Lincoln Memorial cent. Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-661/DMR-029, this variety's five die stages begin from the earliest observable condition. Stage A (VEDS): obverse and reverse are VEDS. Stage B (EDS): obverse and reverse are EDS. Stage C (MDS): light die scratch northeast from vest, light die crack on column 1. Stage D (LMDS): light die crack on shoulder, die scratch from vest is gone, die chips on columns 1 and 2 at LMDS, die crack on C of CENT. Stage E (LDS): obverse is LDS, die break on column 1. The disappearance of the vest die scratch between Stages C and D illustrates how die polishing or wear can erase surface markers during production, a phenomenon that complicates attribution when collectors rely solely on secondary diagnostics rather than the primary repunch itself. The two northward offsets on this triple punch mirror the same correction pattern seen on RPM-016, suggesting a consistent tendency in Denver die preparation during the 1960 Large Date production run.

Die Markers

• UVC-661
• DMR-029
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are VEDS
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage C:
• Light die scratch Northeast from vest – MDS
• Light die crack on column # 1 – MDS
• Stage D:
• Light die crack on shoulder – LMDS
• Die scratch from vest is gone
• Die chips on column # 1 and 2 – LMDS
• Die crack on C of CENT
• Stage E:
• Obverse is LDS
• Die break on column # 1 – LDS

External References