1970-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-003

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with die tracking codes UVC-446 and DMR-005, this 1970-S Proof Jefferson Nickel RPM-003 exhibits an S/S Tilted repunched mintmark — a variety where the San Francisco mintmark punch was applied twice at slightly different rotational angles, creating a visible secondary S impression tilted relative to the primary. Three die stages are recorded: Stage A is early die state (EDS, unconfirmed); Stage B shows both the reverse and obverse in mid-die-state (MDS); and Stage C is late die state (LDS, unconfirmed). As a proof coin struck at the San Francisco Mint specifically for collector proof sets, this variety appears on coins manufactured with specially polished dies and planchets, producing mirror-like fields that enhance the visibility of the repunched mintmark against the reflective surface. The proof production context is significant because proof dies were generally prepared with greater care than business strike dies, yet mintmark punching remained a manual process susceptible to positional errors regardless of the die's intended use. The Jefferson Nickel was designed by Felix Schlag with Jefferson's portrait on the obverse and Monticello on the reverse, struck in standard copper-nickel composition (75% copper, 25% nickel) weighing 5.00 grams with a diameter of 21.21 mm. The 1970-S proof nickel was produced during a period when San Francisco proof sets were a major collector product, with proof mintages in the millions. The tilted RPM subtype is diagnostically distinct because the angular displacement creates an asymmetric overlap pattern where different portions of the secondary S show varying degrees of visibility, requiring examination of multiple quadrants of the mintmark to fully characterize the repunching.

Die Markers

• UVC-446
• DMR-005
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Delma K. Romines
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References