1972-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-001

Description

Primary repunched mintmark variety for the 1972-S proof Jefferson Nickel, RPM-001 introduces a northward displacement direction not seen on the 1968-1970 proof nickel RPMs. The S/S North direction indicates the first punch landed too far south, and the die setter corrected by shifting the second impression northward — a vertical adjustment rather than the lateral or tilted corrections documented on earlier dates. Attributed as UVC-454 and DMR-002, die stage progression shows Stage A with both obverse and reverse in early die state, while Stages B and C at mid-die state and late die state remain unconfirmed. The shift from predominantly east-west and tilted RPMs on 1968-1970 dates to northward RPMs on 1972 may reflect changes in the mintmark positioning procedure, different die setters working the proof nickel line, or simply the random nature of hand-punching errors across different production years. Struck in 75% copper and 25% nickel, the 1972-S proof nickel was part of San Francisco's annual proof set offering that had become a staple of the collector market since proof production resumed in 1968.

Die Markers

• UVC-454
• DMR-002
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jerome Goodman
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References