1988 (D) Lincoln Memorial Cent - Repunched Mintmark WRPM-002

Description

A D/D Tilted repunched mintmark, WRPM-002 from the Wexler catalog features the secondary mintmark impression rotated relative to the primary — a less common orientation than the simple directional offsets that characterize most RPMs. This replacement variety supersedes the original WRPM-002 designation, which was determined to be a damaged mint mark punch rather than a true repunching event. The obverse die displays a gouge at nose level, a dot on the back of Lincoln's nose, gouges below the Y in LIBERTY, and a rim ridge extending around the entire obverse. On the reverse, weakly struck lower letters E and S in STATES, a die gouge north of the C in CENT, rim ridging, and die cracks on the E in ONE and C/E in CENT all serve as supplementary attribution markers. Cross-referenced as Coppercoins 1988D-1MM-011, this variety illustrates the careful curatorial work involved in maintaining accurate variety catalogs — when a listed variety is found to result from punch damage rather than repunching, it must be replaced with a genuine RPM to preserve the numbering sequence. Struck at the Denver Mint on copper-plated zinc planchets (97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper) at 2.5 grams and 19mm. A tiny die gouge (dot) shows on the back of the nose south of the tip of the eyelid. A die flow line runs south from the right side of the W in WE. Die gouge above the left memorial base west of the top of the stairs.

Cross References

• Coppercoins: 1988D-1MM-011 Comments: This is a replacement variety for the original WRPM-002, that was found to be a damaged mint mark punch.; Wexler Variety ID: 1988-D 1¢ WRPM-002

External References