1970-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-005

Description

Fifth in the VarietyVista repunched mintmark catalog for the 1970-S Lincoln Memorial cent, RPM-005 documents another Proof Large Date variety, this time with the secondary S mintmark displaced to the east — S/S East — meaning the secondary punch landed to the right of the primary impression. Assigned to obverse die variety ODV-025 with die markers UVC-945 and DMR-007, this proof die variety adds an eastward displacement to the directional roster that already includes north (RPM-004), north (RPM-001 business strike), west (RPM-002), and tilted (RPM-003). Three die stages track this die's proof production run. Stage A at Early Die State preserves the eastward repunching at its most diagnostic, with the proof die's polished surface providing mirror-field contrast that renders even subtle mintmark displacement visible under low magnification. Stage B at Mid Die State documents progressive wear on the proof die — a condition that develops more quickly than collectors might expect, since proof dies operate under higher striking pressure than business-strike dies and the polished surfaces are more vulnerable to degradation. Stage C at Late Die State records the die's terminal condition. The eastward displacement on RPM-005 creates a specific visual signature: extra metal appears on the right side of the S mintmark, extending the rightward curves of both the upper and lower portions of the letter. For proof collectors who typically focus on cameo contrast and surface preservation, RPM-005 offers an additional dimension of interest — the die variety itself becomes a collecting criterion layered atop the traditional proof grading considerations.

Die Markers

• UVC-945
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Fivaz
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References