1961-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-002

Description

Attributed by VarietyVista, RPM-002 on the 1961-D Lincoln Memorial Cent is a D/D/D triple-punched mintmark displaced to the west with a visible lower serif from the secondary punch. This variety is documented across two die marriage records — DMR-003 (UVC-766) and DMR-004 (UVC-767) — indicating the obverse die was paired with two different reverse dies during its service life, yielding six total die stages that comprehensively trace the die's deterioration. Under the first die pairing (DMR-003, UVC-766), Stage A (early die state) shows a short upright of the secondary mintmark, a small die gouge under the lapel, and a die scratch between the ON of ONE. Stage B adds a horizontal die clash in front of the date and a die chip on the right cornice, both in early die state. Stage C (early-mid die state) reveals the long upright of the secondary mintmark becoming visible, with a die chip forming in the lower R of LIBERTY, a larger die chip on the right cornice, and a die chip on Memorial column 12. By Stage D (late-mid die state), the secondary mintmark has reverted to showing only the short upright, die scratches running north-south have removed the earlier die clash, fine north-south die scratches appear across the reverse, the right cornice die chip has grown larger, and the column 12 die chip has progressed to a die break. When the reverse die was changed (DMR-004, UVC-767), Stage E (late die state) shows the short upright of the secondary mintmark with a fresh early die state reverse. Stage F finds the obverse in very late die state with the reverse at mid die state. The six stages across two die marriages provide an exceptionally thorough record of this die's operational history, from its earliest impressions through terminal deterioration.

Die Markers

• UVC-766
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• Short upright of secondary mintmark – EDS
• Small die gouge under lapel
• Die scratch between ON of ONE – EDS
• Stage B:
• Horizontal die clash in front of date – EDS
• Die chip on Right cornice – EDS
• Stage C:
• Long upright of secondary mintmark – EMDS
• Die chip in lower R of LIBERTY
• Larger die chip on Right cornice – EMDS
• Die chip on column #12
• Stage D:
• Short upright of secondary mintmark – LMDS
• Die scratches North-South have removed die clash
• Fine die scratches North-South on Reverse – LMDS
• Larger die chip on Right cornice
• Die break on column #12
• UVC-767
• DMR-004
• Stage E:
• Short upright of secondary mintmark – LDS
• Reverse die changed – EDS
• Stage F:
• Obverse is VLDS
• Reverse is MDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Unknown
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References