1938-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-003

Description

Third documented repunched mintmark for the 1938-D Buffalo Nickel, RPM-003 adds another entry to the catalog of hand-punched mint mark varieties from the final year of James Earle Fraser's beloved design. Cataloged by VarietyVista with codes UVC-219 and DMR-004, this variety was produced at the Denver Mint using the same manual die preparation process that generated RPMs throughout the series' twenty-five-year run from 1913 to 1938. The 1938-D holds terminal significance as the last Buffalo Nickel, making any die variety from this date a collectible artifact of the design's conclusion. Struck in 75% copper and 25% nickel, the coin's composition remained unchanged from its 1913 debut. Die progression is documented across three stages: Stage A with reverse and obverse in early die state (EDS), Stage B at mid-die state (MDS), and Stage C at late die state (LDS). As RPM-003, this represents a less dramatic displacement than RPM-001 or RPM-002 but still meets cataloging thresholds for visible secondary mint mark traces. Multiple RPMs from the 1938-D date confirm that the hand-punching procedure continued generating misaligned impressions right through the design's final production.

Die Markers

• UVC-219
• DMR-004
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Reverse and Obverse are LDS

External References