1971-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-001

Description

Cataloged as the first documented repunched mintmark for the 1971-S Proof Kennedy Half Dollar, this variety shows the S mintmark punched twice with the original placement shifted to the west of the final position. The S/S West designation means the initial S punch was placed slightly to the left, then corrected with a second punch, leaving a shadow of the first impression visible beneath or beside the accepted mintmark. RPM-001 is linked to obverse die variety ODV-003, which identifies the specific obverse die paired with this repunched mintmark. During this era, mintmarks were individually hand-punched into each working die, a manual process inherently susceptible to placement errors. The 1971-S Proof Half Dollar was struck in clad composition at the San Francisco Mint, part of the annual proof set offered to collectors. Repunched mintmarks on proof coinage are notable because proof dies received more careful preparation than business-strike dies, yet the hand-punching process still introduced variation. This variety documents one such alignment correction preserved on a proof die from the early 1970s.

External References