1970-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-004

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-1753 with die marriage reference DMR-006, the 1970-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-004 Jefferson Nickel features a D/D Tilted repunched mintmark — where the Denver mintmark punch was applied twice with the second impression at a slightly different rotational angle relative to the first. The die state documentation reveals three stages with notable asymmetric wear: Stage A is early die state (unconfirmed); Stage B shows the obverse in early mid-die-state while the reverse has already reached late die state; Stage C is late die state (unconfirmed). The reverse's advanced deterioration relative to the obverse in Stage B suggests this reverse die experienced heavier wear, possibly due to the greater design depth required for the Monticello facade's architectural details compared to the relatively shallow Jefferson portrait on the obverse. Felix Schlag designed both faces of the Jefferson Nickel series that began in 1938, with the obverse Jefferson portrait based on Jean-Antoine Houdon's celebrated bust. The coin is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 5.00 grams with a 21.2 mm diameter and a plain edge. The 1970-D Jefferson Nickel was struck at the Denver Mint during the period when hand-punched mintmarks were standard practice, with the tilted D/D pattern on RPM-004 documenting a specific instance where the die preparation specialist's second punch strike contacted the die at a slightly different angle than the first. The RPM-004 designation makes this the fourth documented repunched mintmark for the 1970-D nickel, part of a family of RPM varieties generated by the Denver Mint's manual mintmark application process for this date.

Die Markers

• UVC-1753
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse is EMDS
• Reverse is LDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Eric Axtell
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References