1941-S Repunched Mintmark WRPM-001

Description

Bearing the primary WRPM-001 designation from the Wexler Team, this 1941 San Francisco Jefferson Nickel represents the first — and typically most prominent — repunched mintmark variety cataloged for the date and mint. The 001 designation generally indicates either the strongest doubling or the earliest discovery, serving as the benchmark for subsequent RPM varieties of the same issue. San Francisco's 1941 production contributed to the final pre-war output of standard-composition Jefferson Nickels, as the following year brought the wartime alloy change that altered the coin's metallic content and mintmark placement. The S mintmark on pre-war Jefferson Nickels sits to the right of Monticello on the reverse, and repunching is identified by traces of an initial punch visible alongside or beneath the final position. Hand-punching was a labor-intensive process with each working die receiving its mintmark individually from a skilled engraver using a hand-held punch and mallet. The inherent imprecision guaranteed that some percentage of dies would show repositioning evidence, creating the RPM varieties collectors seek across the early Jefferson series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tony Russo Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1941-S 5¢ WRPM-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References