1945-S Repunched Mintmark RPM-026

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with the comment notation S/S South and an additional designation of MMS-004 (Trumpet Tail), the 1945-S Lincoln Wheat Cent RPM-026 is cataloged as UVC-1198 with die marker record DMR-029. The S/S South designation indicates the initial mintmark punch landed too far north, with the corrective second impression placing the final S southward and leaving the first impression’s remnant visible above the primary letter. The Trumpet Tail notation (MMS-004) refers to a distinctive mintmark style where the lower curve of the S terminates in a flared or trumpet-shaped tail, identifying the specific punch used from among the several S mintmark punches in the Mint’s inventory. Die stage progression documents three states: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B at mid-die-state (unconfirmed), and Stage C with both obverse and reverse in late die state (LDS), the only confirmed state. The 1945-S Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the San Francisco Mint in 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. Victor David Brenner’s Lincoln portrait appears on the obverse, paired with the wheat ears reverse in its thirty-seventh year. The combination of repunching direction (South) and punch style identification (Trumpet Tail) provides a two-layered attribution framework: the directional shift confirms the mechanical error, while the punch style narrows the die to one prepared with a specific physical tool from the Mint’s mintmark punch collection. Collectors should note that only LDS specimens are confirmed, suggesting earlier die states with sharper repunching detail may await discovery.

Die Markers

• UVC-1198
• DMR-029
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References