1961-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-038

Description

Recorded by VarietyVista under UVC-815 with die marriage record DMR-052, RPM-038 on the 1961-D Lincoln Memorial Cent is a repunched mintmark variety with four die stages that document both distinctive diagnostic markers and their eventual erasure by die wear. Stage A carries an unconfirmed Early Die State (EDS) classification, representing the die’s initial production period before distinctive surface features had developed. Stage B introduces the variety’s most memorable diagnostic at Mid Die State (MDS): an X-shaped die scratch positioned in front of the 1 of the date, accompanied by a die scratch running north from the F of FG (designer Frank Gasparro’s initials) at MDS. The X-shaped scratch is particularly noteworthy because its intersecting lines create a distinctive geometric pattern that is not easily confused with the linear scratches more commonly found on Lincoln Memorial cent dies. By Stage C, the X-shaped die scratch has worn away entirely at Late Die State (LDS), with the reverse also reaching LDS — demonstrating how even the most visually striking surface features can be transient, existing only during a specific window of the die’s operational life. The terminal Stage D finds both the obverse and reverse at Very Late Die State (VLDS), indicating the die was pressed into service well beyond the point at which the earlier diagnostic features had been erased. The complete lifecycle of the X-shaped scratch — absent at Stage A, prominent at Stage B, gone by Stage C — underscores why die state identification is essential for accurate attribution of RPM varieties.

Die Markers

• UVC-815
• DMR-052
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• X shaped die scratch in front of 1 of date – MDS
• Die scratch North from F of FG, designer's initials – MDS
• Stage C:
• Die scratch has worn away – LDS
• Reverse is LDS
• Stage D:
• Obverse and Reverse are VLDS

External References