1935-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-002

Description

Second repunched mintmark documented for the 1935-D Mercury dime, RPM-002 shares the D/D North displacement direction with RPM-001 for the same date, indicating that northward (upward) mintmark correction was a recurring pattern in Denver's die preparation for this issue. The initial D punch was placed too low, and the corrective second punch shifted the mintmark to a higher position, leaving traces of the original lower impression as a diagnostic shadow beneath the final D. While both RPM-001 and RPM-002 show northward repunching, they originate from different working dies — each die received its mintmark independently, and the similar directional error on two separate dies may reflect a systematic tendency in the punching setup or a recurring misjudgment of the correct position by the mint worker responsible for mintmark application. Adolph A. Weinman's Mercury dime reverse design, with its fasces and olive branch symbolizing peace through strength, positions the D mintmark in a small open area to the right of the fasces. Denver struck approximately 10.48 million Mercury dimes in 1935, enough production to require multiple die pairs and generate the raw material for two (and potentially more) documented RPMs. Distinguishing RPM-002 from RPM-001 requires careful comparison of the specific overlap characteristics — the exact degree of northward displacement, the relative position of the secondary D's curves against the primary, and any accompanying die markers unique to each die. Collectors examining 1935-D Mercury dimes should focus on the D mintmark under 10-15x magnification, looking for evidence of a secondary impression below the final D position. If northward repunching is detected, comparison against published reference images for both RPM-001 and RPM-002 determines the specific attribution.

External References