1974 (D) Lincoln Memorial Cent - Repunched Mintmark WRPM-001

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1974-D 1¢ WRPM-001, this repunched mint mark variety displays a D/D Tilted (Rotated) displacement — the secondary "D" impression is rotated relative to the primary, producing a slightly angled ghost image partially visible alongside the dominant mint mark. An important diagnostic attribute of WRPM-001 is its association with the Small Date obverse die variety, which identifies the die as carrying the proportionally smaller date numerals that distinguish it from the Large Date configuration also known for the 1974-D cent. The Small Date designation serves as a preliminary sorting criterion that narrows the field before examining the mint mark area under magnification. Documented die markers on the obverse include a die scratch running northwest beneath the numeral 1 in the date and die gouges at the rim below Lincoln's lapel. On the reverse, a light die scratch extends from east-southeast to west-northwest beneath the O in ONE. These markers collectively form a fingerprint unique to this die pairing, allowing definitive attribution even when the repunched mint mark displacement is marginal or partially obscured by a weak strike. The Wexler numbering system assigns sequential catalog numbers within each date-mint combination, and WRPM-001's position as the first entry indicates it was the earliest repunched mint mark variety documented by the team for the 1974-D cent. The Small Date versus Large Date distinction is most easily observed in the crossbar and proportions of the numeral "4" and the overall spacing of the date digits.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1974-D 1¢ WRPM-001

External References