1970-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-005

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1970-S 5¢ Pr WRPM-005 with no known cross-references to other attribution systems, this proof Jefferson Nickel displays an S/S South repunched mintmark where the initial S punch landed slightly higher than the final corrected position, leaving the remnant of the first impression visible above the primary S. Obverse die markers include numerous N/S (north-south) die scratches running through a heavily abraded queue — Jefferson's ponytail — indicating aggressive die polishing in that area that removed surface detail while leaving linear striations aligned with the polishing direction. Reverse markers include die gouges to the left of the P in PLURIBUS. The "heavily abraded queue" notation suggests the die underwent maintenance that significantly affected the ponytail area's surface, creating a polished or smoothed appearance distinct from the normal engraved detail. The Jefferson Nickel was designed by Felix Schlag and struck as a proof at the San Francisco Mint in 1970, composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel at 5.00 grams with a 21.21 mm diameter. The 1970-S proof was produced during the period when the San Francisco Mint served exclusively as the proof production facility for U.S. coinage, using specially polished dies and planchets to create the mirror-like fields characteristic of proof coins. Repunched mintmarks on proof dies are particularly noteworthy because proof production involved lower die utilization rates and higher quality control standards than circulation strikes, making RPM occurrences on proof issues comparatively less common than on their business-strike counterparts from the Denver or Philadelphia Mints.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1970-S 5¢ Pr WRPM-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References