1972-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-005

Description

Northwest displacement characterizes RPM-005 of the 1972-D Lincoln Memorial cent — a diagonal repunch combining both northward and westward components that places the secondary D mintmark impression above and to the left of the primary. Tracked as UVC-968 and DMR-007, this die progressed through three documented stages: Stage A displaying a strong secondary mintmark in early die state accompanied by two short parallel die scratches extending south from the lower left baseline, Stage B showing medium secondary mintmark strength at mid-die state with the reverse also at mid-die state, and Stage C in late die state (unconfirmed). The progression from strong to medium secondary mintmark visibility between Stages A and B records the gradual erosion of the shallower initial punch impression under sustained striking pressure — a consistent pattern seen across many RPM varieties where the incompletely seated first punch creates less durable relief than the final corrective blow. The obverse is classified ODV-027b (MDO) with a die gouge present in the upper S of TRUST, sharing this specific marker with RPM-004 — though the two varieties are easily distinguished by their different mintmark displacement directions (northwest versus north). The two short parallel die scratches south from the lower left baseline in Stage A provide a geometric marker unique to this die's earliest production, disappearing by Stage B as die wear obliterates the shallow surface features while the deeper repunched mintmark impression persists longer. The diagonal northwest displacement is relatively uncommon among 1972-D RPMs, making this variety distinctive within the nine-entry sequence.

Die Markers

• UVC-968
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• Strong secondary mintmark – EDS
• Two short, parallel die scratches South from lower Left baseline – EDS
• Stage B:
• Medium secondary mintmark – MDS
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Harry Ellis
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References