1914-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-001

Description

Bearing the primary Wexler repunched mintmark designation for the 1914-S Buffalo nickel, WRPM-001 documents an S/S northeast — a secondary S mintmark impression displaced to the northeast of the primary position. This variety carries dual cross-references from major attribution services: CONECA RPM #1 and Wexler Variety ID: 1914-S 5¢ WRPM-001, confirming its recognition across the leading die variety cataloging organizations. James Earle Fraser's Buffalo nickel was in its second year of production in 1914, and San Francisco struck approximately 3.47 million pieces — a relatively low mintage that makes the 1914-S a key date commanding substantial premiums regardless of variety status. The obverse die markers reveal evidence of die clashing: clash marks appear where the throat meets the lower jaw on the Indian head portrait, indicating the obverse and reverse dies struck each other without an intervening planchet at least once during this die pair's service. The reverse carries a complementary clash diagnostic: clash marks visible to the left of UNUM, documenting the reciprocal transfer of obverse design elements onto the reverse die. Repunched mintmarks on Buffalo nickels result from the hand-punching process where a mint employee positioned the S punch against the working die and struck it — if the first impression was deemed incorrectly placed, a second punch attempt at the intended position created the overlapping impressions documented as RPMs. The northeast displacement means the initial S impression sits slightly above and to the right of the final corrected position. The die clash evidence on both sides adds die state interest to this variety, as the clash marks may or may not appear on all specimens depending on whether the clashing occurred before or during the production run. Collectors should examine the S mintmark under 15-20x magnification for traces of the displaced secondary impression to the northeast.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lloyd Hanson Cross References: CONECA: RPM #1
• CONECA: RPM #1; Wexler Variety ID: 1914-S 5¢ WRPM-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References