1968-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-002

Description

Attributed as RPM-002 for the 1968-S Lincoln Memorial cent by VarietyVista, this repunched mint mark variety appears on the regular business strike issue. The variety is assigned UVC-919 and DMR-003 in the VarietyVista cataloging system. Three die stages document the progression of this die through its service life: Stage A shows both obverse and reverse in early die state (EDS), representing the freshest examples struck before significant die wear accumulated; Stage B exhibits numerous strong die scratches beneath the chin on the obverse — a mid die state (MDS) condition — with the reverse also in MDS; Stage C reaches late die state (LDS) but remains unconfirmed, meaning specimens in this condition have been reported but not yet photographically verified to the attribution service's standards. The strong die scratches beneath the chin in Stage B provide a particularly useful secondary attribution marker: collectors who cannot clearly resolve the repunched mint mark due to wear or environmental damage can still tentatively identify this die by the distinctive scratch pattern. The 1968-S cent was struck at the San Francisco Mint during the first year mint marks returned to U.S. coinage after the Coinage Act of 1965 prohibition. Struck on a 3.11-gram, 19mm planchet of 95% copper and 5% zinc.

Die Markers

• UVC-919
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Numerous strong die scratches beneath chin – MDS
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References