1834 Repunched Lettering WRPL-001

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as the primary repunched lettering variety for the 1834 Capped Bust Quarter (Wexler Variety ID: 1834 25-cent WRPL-001), this variety documents an instance where letter punches were applied more than once during die preparation, leaving traces of the initial impression visible alongside the final placement. The notation "PHOTOS NEEDED" in the cross-reference field indicates that photographic documentation of this variety has not yet been submitted to the Wexler attribution archive, leaving it documented by description alone — a status that invites collectors who own attributable specimens to contribute imaging. Repunched lettering varieties on Capped Bust Quarters are particularly interesting because the lettering on these early coins was applied entirely by hand using individual letter punches, making minor repositioning during the punching process a common source of variety creation. The Capped Bust Quarter, designed by William Kneass after John Reich's earlier Capped Bust concept, was struck from 1815 through 1838 at the Philadelphia Mint exclusively. The 1834 date had a mintage of 286,000 pieces, a modest output typical of the era. No cross-references to other cataloging systems are recorded, suggesting this variety may have been identified through Wexler Team research rather than being previously documented in earlier references. The need for photographic documentation underscores the collaborative nature of die variety research, where attribution specialists depend on collectors to provide specimens for imaging.

Attribution History

• Discovered by James T. Woods Cross References: None known PHOTOS NEEDED
• None known PHOTOS NEEDED; Wexler Variety ID: 1834 25¢ WRPL-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References