1971-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-005

Description

Introducing a tilted displacement geometry into the 1971-S proof RPM catalog, RPM-005 documents an S/S Tilted repunched mintmark where the initial punch landed at a rotational angle different from the final mintmark orientation — a variety class that results not from simple directional misplacement (north, south, east, west) but from the punch being held at a skewed axis during the initial blow. Attributed by VarietyVista as UVC-959 with DMR-007, the variety's die state progression is largely unconfirmed: Stage A shows both obverse and reverse at EDS, while Stages B (MDS) and C (LDS) are unconfirmed, indicating limited specimen availability for documenting later die states. The obverse die variant ODV-027 identifies this as the normal tie variant, distinguishing it from the re-engraved tie (ODV-028) found on RPM-003, RPM-004, and several other proof entries. Tilted RPMs present a distinctive diagnostic appearance compared to directional displacements: rather than showing a clean shadow of the S shifted uniformly in one compass direction, the remnant of the initial punch appears rotated relative to the final position, creating an angular misalignment between the two S impressions that is visible under magnification as a slightly canted secondary letter form. For San Francisco proof production in 1971, the discovery of a tilted RPM adds another dimension to the catalog of hand-punching variability — alongside the north, south, and west displacements documented in other entries, this tilted orientation demonstrates that rotational control of the mintmark punch was as variable as its positional placement. The proof format preserves the tilted displacement with full mirror-field clarity on the finished coin.

Die Markers

• UVC-959
• DMR-007
• 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