1945 Repunched Mintmark RPM-003

Description

Among the earliest cataloged repunched mintmarks for the prolific 1945-P date, RPM-003 was documented by VarietyVista and occupies the third position in the extensive catalog of over 70 identified varieties for this single date-mint combination. No directional displacement is specified in the available comments, leaving the P/P orientation uncharacterized in the current entry. Die markers UVC-194 / DMR-004 track three stages: Stage A at EDS (unconfirmed); Stage B with both reverse and obverse at MDS; and Stage C with reverse and obverse at LDS. The low catalog number suggests this was among the first 1945-P RPM varieties identified, potentially discovered during the earlier decades of systematic Jefferson Nickel variety study when the most prominent and easily detected examples were documented first. The Jefferson Nickel was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1945, the final year of wartime silver alloy production before the return to standard 75% copper / 25% nickel composition in 1946. Composed of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, the coin weighs 5.0 grams with a diameter of 21.21 mm. Felix Schlag's obverse and Monticello reverse were retained throughout the wartime period, with the oversized P mintmark above the dome being the most visible external distinction from standard-composition issues. The 1945 Philadelphia Mint nickel production represented the culmination of three years of emergency alloy coinage, and by this point the Mint's die shop had considerable experience applying the large P punch — yet the sheer volume of working dies required for the 1945 production run still generated an extraordinary number of misalignment events, as documented by the 70+ RPM varieties cataloged for this single date.

Die Markers

• UVC-194
• DMR-004
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Reverse and Obverse are LDS

External References