1975-D Repunched Mintmark WRPM-003

Description

Designated 1975-D 1¢ WRPM-003 by the Wexler Team, this repunched mintmark variety on the 1975 Denver Mint Lincoln Memorial cent is accompanied by a detailed roster of die markers on both sides of the coin. On the obverse, a small die gouge appears under the left bust tip, and a small die gouge (dot) is positioned to the right of the mintmark — the latter being a particularly useful diagnostic because of its proximity to the repunching itself. The reverse carries an even richer set of markers: a die crack extends from the left Memorial base to the rim, another die crack traverses upper columns 11 and 12, and a pre-die-crack depression is visible on column 11, suggesting that stress was building in the die steel at that location before the fracture fully propagated. Additionally, die scratches run from the upper N in ONE to the mid-section of the E in ONE. These reverse die cracks and the pre-crack depression are significant because they indicate the die was under considerable mechanical stress — likely in a mid to late die state — when the documented specimens were produced. The combination of the mintmark repunching and the progressive die deterioration on the reverse makes WRPM-003 a variety that tells two stories simultaneously: the initial manufacturing anomaly of the misaligned mintmark punch and the subsequent mechanical history of the die as it endured millions of high-pressure strikes at the Denver Mint. Attribution by the Wexler Team.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John Shields Cross-Reference: Coppercoins: 1975D-1MM-002
• Wexler Variety ID: 1975-D 1¢ WRPM-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References