1973-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-001

Description

Opening the 1973-S proof Jefferson Nickel RPM catalog, RPM-001 continues the northward displacement trend established on the 1972 date with an S/S North direction. The die setter's initial punch placement fell south of the intended position, and a corrective northward second punch established the final mintmark location while leaving the lower portions of the original S visible beneath. Cataloged as UVC-472 and DMR-002, die stage documentation places Stage A with both obverse and reverse in early die state, with Stages B and C unconfirmed at mid-die state and late die state. By 1973, San Francisco had been striking proof coins continuously for six years since resuming the program in 1968, and the consistency of northward RPMs across 1972-1973 proof nickels points to stable die-setting practices during this period. Felix Schlag's Jefferson portrait, originally selected through a 1938 design competition, continued to grace the obverse of these 75% copper and 25% nickel proof coins. Four RPM varieties are documented for the 1973-S proof nickel, all sharing the same northward displacement class.

Die Markers

• UVC-472
• DMR-002
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Eric Axtell
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References