1971-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-008

Description

Eighth repunched mintmark attributed for the 1971-S Lincoln Memorial cent, RPM-008 documents another S/S North displacement on a proof die — continuing the northward-shift pattern that appears in RPM-001 and RPM-004 but on a distinct working die with its own die marriage and state progression. Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-962 with DMR-010, the variety's Stage A shows both obverse and reverse at EDS, while Stages B and C at MDS and LDS respectively remain unconfirmed. The obverse die variant ODV-028 identifies this as the re-engraved tie variant, placing RPM-008 alongside RPM-003, RPM-004, and several other proof entries that share this distinctive Lincoln bow tie modification — a connection suggesting that the re-engraved tie was a systematic die rework applied across a batch of 1971-S proof obverse dies. Finding multiple RPMs bearing the same tie variant indicates that hand-punching errors occurred across this entire batch of reworked dies rather than being isolated to a single anomalous specimen. The S/S North orientation means the initial mintmark punch seated slightly south of the target position, and the corrective second blow drove the S northward to its final location while leaving vestiges of the first impression as a secondary S image displaced to the south. Proof production at San Francisco preserved these repunching traces with the mirror-field clarity that makes proof coins the preferred format for die variety study — the reflective surfaces provide maximum contrast between the raised mintmark metal and the surrounding field, enabling detection of even subtle secondary impressions that might be lost in the lustre patterns of business strikes.

Die Markers

• UVC-962
• DMR-010
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References