1929-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-006

Description

Reaching six documented repunched mintmarks for the 1929 San Francisco Mint cent, this variety (Wexler Variety ID: 1929-S 1¢ WRPM-006) underscores how pervasive mintmark placement variations were in the hand-punch era. Each of the six WRPMs for this date represents a different working die on which the S mintmark punch was struck at least twice, leaving traces of the initial impression visible beside the final placement. The mechanism was straightforward but demanding: an engraver held a hardened steel punch bearing the letter S against the die face, positioned it by eye, and drove it home with a hammer blow. Any imprecision — a slight tilt, a fraction of a millimeter's misalignment, insufficient depth — could prompt a corrective second strike. Attributing WRPM-006 requires distinguishing it from the five other documented varieties, each displaying a unique combination of direction and magnitude of repunching. The 1929-S Wheat Cent saw extensive circulation through the Depression years, and many surviving examples show wear that can obscure the mintmark details critical for RPM identification. Attributed solely through the Wexler system without additional catalog cross-references.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lloyd Hanson Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1929-S 1¢ WRPM-006
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References