1971-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-004

Description

Fourth repunched mintmark cataloged for the 1971-S Lincoln Memorial cent, RPM-004 records an S/S North displacement on a proof die — the second northward-shifted RPM in the proof format after RPM-003's southward displacement. Documented by VarietyVista as UVC-958 with DMR-006, the variety progresses through three states: Stage A at EDS (unconfirmed), Stage B with both obverse and reverse at MDS, and Stage C at LDS (unconfirmed). The obverse die variant ODV-028 identifies this as the re-engraved tie variant, connecting it to the same obverse die design modification seen on RPM-003 and several other 1971-S proof RPMs — a shared characteristic suggesting that the re-engraved tie was applied to a group of obverse dies during this production period, and that multiple dies from that group subsequently developed detectable repunching. The S/S North displacement means the first mintmark punch landed slightly south of the intended target, requiring the die worker to deliver a corrective second blow that shifted the final S position northward. On proof dies, where the San Francisco Mint's preparation standards called for greater care than business strike die manufacturing, the persistence of detectable repunching speaks to the fundamental limitations of hand-punching technology — no amount of additional care could eliminate the human variability inherent in manually positioning and striking a steel punch against a steel die. Proof surfaces preserve the repunched mintmark with the high-contrast clarity characteristic of mirror-field coinage, making the remnant of the initial S punch detectable under moderate magnification as a secondary impression displaced south of the final mintmark.

Die Markers

• UVC-958
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Unknown
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References