1945-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-009

Description

Ninth documented repunched mintmark for the 1945-D Mercury dime, RPM-009 shows a D/D South displacement and carries the additional cross-reference designation FS-503 in the Fivaz-Stanton attribution system. The FS-503 listing elevates this variety's visibility significantly, as the Cherrypickers' Guide — the reference work built on the Fivaz-Stanton numbering system — is among the most widely consulted variety references in American numismatics. The D/D South direction indicates the first D punch was placed too high and the correction moved the mintmark southward (downward), leaving vestiges of the initial impression visible above the final D position. Denver produced approximately 40.25 million Mercury dimes in 1945, the final year of Adolph A. Weinman's iconic winged Liberty cap design before it was replaced by John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt dime in 1946. The wartime 1945 production represents one of the highest Denver outputs in the Mercury dime series, and the documentation of at least nine distinct RPMs for this single date reflects both the volume of dies used and the inherent variability of the hand-punching process during an era of maximum production demands. The southward displacement means collectors should focus their examination above the final D position, where traces of the initial higher punch create a secondary impression — typically visible as faint serifs or partial letter outlines extending above the accepted mintmark's upper boundary. The FS-503 designation confirms that the Cherrypickers' Guide editorial team evaluated this variety and determined it merited inclusion, suggesting the repunching is clear enough to be identified with moderate skill and magnification in the 10-15x range. This cross-referencing between catalog systems provides collectors with multiple pathways to identify and verify the variety.

External References