1970-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-003

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-549 with die marriage reference DMR-006, the 1970-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-003 is a proof Roosevelt Dime displaying an S/S North repunched mintmark — the third documented RPM variety for this date and mint. The northward displacement places the secondary S impression below the primary, visible as remnants of the initial punch extending south from the bottom of the corrected letter. The die state documentation lists Stage A with both obverse and reverse in early die state, Stage B as mid-die-state (unconfirmed), and Stage C as late die state (unconfirmed). This S/S North classification is shared with RPM-005 and RPM-006 for the same date, meaning three of the six documented 1970-S proof dime RPMs exhibit northward displacement — a pattern that could reflect a consistent tendency in the die preparation process at the San Francisco Mint during this period, possibly related to the angle at which the mintmark punch was presented to the die surface or the positioning of the die in the fixture during punch application. John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt Dime design features the presidential portrait on the obverse and the torch-and-branches reverse. Struck in clad composition (91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel over pure copper) at 2.27 grams with a 17.9 mm diameter, the proof coin's mirror finish captures the northward displacement detail against a highly reflective background. The concentration of three northward-displaced RPMs among the six varieties documented for this single proof date provides a window into the die preparation practices and the physical mechanics of hand-punching mintmarks at the San Francisco Mint facility during 1970 proof coin production.

Die Markers

• UVC-549
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References