1970-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-006

Description

Cataloged as RPM-006 in the VarietyVista sequence for the 1970-S Lincoln Memorial cent, this Proof Large Date variety documents a tilted repunched mintmark — S/S Tilted — on a proof die, indicating the secondary S punch was applied at a rotational angle relative to the primary impression. Assigned to obverse die variety ODV-025 with die markers UVC-1180 and DMR-022, this variety's UVC number in the 1180s (rather than the 940s of RPMs 001 through 005) indicates it was cataloged significantly later than the initial wave of 1970-S RPM attributions, likely discovered after systematic re-examination of proof populations yielded previously overlooked dies. Three die stages have been documented. Stage A at Early Die State captures the tilted repunching at peak clarity on the proof die's polished surface. Stage B at Mid Die State records progressive deterioration, while Stage C at Late Die State documents terminal die condition. The tilted displacement on a proof die is particularly interesting from a production standpoint: proof dies were prepared with greater care than business-strike dies, undergoing additional polishing and quality inspection, yet the hand-punching of mintmarks remained a manual operation vulnerable to the same human variability regardless of the die's intended striking purpose. RPM-006's tilted repunch on a proof die parallels RPM-003's tilted repunch on a business-strike die, demonstrating that rotational misalignment during mintmark punching occurred across both production categories. The proof context ensures superior surface preservation on surviving specimens, making the tilted ghost S more readily observable than on circulated business strikes.

Die Markers

• UVC-1180
• DMR-022
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References