1970-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-006

Description

Showing the secondary mintmark displaced to the northeast of the primary impression, RPM-006 on the 1970-D Lincoln Memorial cent carries the directional designation "D/D Northeast." This northeast displacement means the punch shifted both upward and to the right between its first and second application, producing extra metal — a partial ghost D — visible at the upper-right quadrant of the final mintmark when examined under magnification. Die markers UVC-939 and DMR-007 anchor this variety in the VarietyVista attribution system. Three die stages have been cataloged, painting a complete arc of the die's working life. Stage A at Early Die State remains unconfirmed, continuing a pattern seen across many 1970-D RPM listings where the earliest specimens were not identified before the variety gained recognition. Stage B shows both obverse and reverse surfaces at Mid Die State — the optimal window for clear attribution, when the repunched mintmark details are fully matured but not yet degraded by fatigue. Stage C documents both surfaces at Late Die State, where cumulative striking pressure has worn the die steel enough to begin blurring the boundary between primary and secondary mintmark impressions. The northeast direction provides immediate differentiation from RPM-005 (tilted) and RPM-007 (south), allowing collectors to sort 1970-D RPM varieties by punch vector even before consulting die marker photographs.

Die Markers

• UVC-939
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References