1975-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-002

Description

Identified by VarietyVista under Universal Variety Code UVC-1138 and Die Marriage Record DMR-003, the 1975-D RPM-002 is the second cataloged repunched mintmark for the 1975 Denver Mint Lincoln Memorial cent. Like all RPM varieties of this period, it was created during the manual mintmark application process in which an engraver hand-punched the "D" into the working die. Three die stages document the progression of this die's service life. Stage A is classified as Early Die State (unconfirmed), representing the die's earliest known use. At Stage B, the die had developed several distinctive markers: die scratches running east to west in front of Lincoln's profile, die scratches oriented north to south above the letters LIB of LIBERTY, and a large depression beneath the middle right base of the Memorial building — all characteristic of a die in its Mid Die State. These secondary die markers are critical for attribution, as they allow collectors to confirm that a specimen came from this specific die rather than from another 1975-D die with a superficially similar mintmark shift. Stage C is cataloged as Late Die State (unconfirmed), representing the die near the end of its useful life. The emergence of die scratches and surface depressions at Stage B tells a story of progressive deterioration under the relentless mechanical stress of high-volume cent production at the Denver Mint. Attribution by VarietyVista.

Die Markers

• UVC-1138
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die scratches East-West in front of profile – MDS
• Die scratches North-South above LIB of LIBERTY
• Large depression under middle Right base of building – MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References