1940-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-012

Description

Twelfth repunched mintmark for the 1940 San Francisco Lincoln Wheat Cent, WRPM-012 preserves unusually detailed die markers that extend beyond the mintmark itself. The obverse shows a significant die crack running from the rim NE at the back of Lincoln's bust, traveling through the jacket and then curving nearly east to the vest — a progressive structural failure that indicates this die was in advanced use. The reverse carries a die scratch running north from the center of the first S in STATES through its top, plus a NNW/SSE die scratch between the A and T of STATES that touches the left horizontal bar of the T. These precise die marker descriptions provide collectors with multiple confirmation points beyond the repunched mintmark itself. San Francisco struck approximately 112 million cents in 1940, a pre-war production level reflecting rising economic activity. Twelve RPMs for this date demonstrates the frequency of mintmark repositioning during the hand-punching era, when each die required an individual application of the S mintmark. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1940-S 1¢ WRPM-012 with no other known cross-references, this variety was attributed by the Wexler Team.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wayne Herndon Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1940-S 1¢ WRPM-012
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References