1972-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-003

Description

Third repunched mintmark in the VarietyVista catalog for the 1972-D cent, RPM-003 exhibits a D/D West orientation sharing its directional classification with RPM-001 but representing an entirely different working die as confirmed by its unique die marker suite — UVC-966 and DMR-005. Three die stages have been documented: Stage A in early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B at mid-die state showing a medium but full upright secondary mintmark accompanied by a die scratch running from the D of UNITED to the left cornice of the Memorial on the reverse, and Stage C in late die state (unconfirmed). The description of the secondary mintmark as "medium but full upright" provides important diagnostic detail — "medium" describes the impression strength (neither strong nor weak), while "full upright" confirms the secondary D maintains correct vertical alignment rather than showing any tilt, indicating the initial punch was properly oriented but laterally displaced to the west before correction. The obverse carries the ODV-027a classification — no master die doubling obverse — meaning this die was sourced from a working hub that escaped the 1972 master die doubling that affected 60-70% of the production. The reverse die scratch connecting the D of UNITED to the left cornice provides a long-range linear marker spanning a significant portion of the reverse surface, making it useful for die identification even on specimens where the mintmark area may be worn or damaged. Among the nine documented 1972-D RPMs, the D/D West orientation appears most frequently, suggesting that westward displacement was the most common directional error during the hand-punching of D mintmarks into Lincoln cent dies during this production period.

Die Markers

• UVC-966
• DMR-005
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Medium but full upright to secondary mintmark – MDS
• Die scratch from D of UNITED to Left cornice – MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Unknown
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References